.11,11.  8  191  n 


A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 


BOOKS  IN  THE  SERIES 

First  Year: 

Part    I — Student    Standards    of    Action,    by    Harrison    S. 

Elliott  and  Ethel  Cutler. 
Part  II — Christian  Standards  in  Life,  by  J.  Lovell  Murray 

and  Frederick  M.  Harris. 

Second  Year: 

Part  I — A  Life  At  Its  Best,  by  Richard  Henry  Edwards 

and  Ethel  Cutler. 
Part  II — A    Challenge  to   Life    Service,  by  Frederick   M. 

Harris  and  Joseph  C.  Robbins. 


COLLEGE      VOLUNTARY     STUDY      COURSES 


SECOND  YEAR— PART  II 

A  CHALLENGE   TO 

LIFE  SERVICE  _ 

^\  OF  m^ 


By       ^ 

Frederick  M.  Hari 

Secretary,  Publication  Department,  International 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 

AND 


8  191P 


Joseph  C.  Robbins 

Foreign  Secretary,  American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society; 
formerly.  Candidate  Secretary,  Student  Volunteer  Movement 


Written  under  the  direction  of 

Sub-Committee  on  College  Courses 

Sunday  School  Council  of  Evangelical 

Denominations 

AND 

Committee  on  Voluntary  Study 
Council  of   North  American  Student  Movements 


New  York:  124  East  28th  Street 
London:  47  Paternoster  Row,  E.G. 
•  1916 


Copyright,   19 i6,  by  The 

International  Committee  of  Young  Men's 

Christian  Associations 


The  Bible  text  printed  in  short  measure  (indented  both  sides) 
is  taken  from  the  American  Standard  Edition  of  the  Revised 
Bible,  copyright,  1901,  by  Thomas  Nelson  &  Sons,  and  is  used 
by  permission. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGV 

Introduction     vii; 

I.     Tension  Points  in  the  Modern  World i 

11.     The   Ideals  of  the  Kingdom 8 

III.  Can  Jesus'  New  Order  be  Realized 20 

IV.  Every  Man  of  Every  Nation  in  the  Kingdom..  31 
V.     The  Territorial  Limits  of  the  Kingdom 44 

VI.     The   Supreme   Opportunity 59 

VII.     The  Christian  in  the  Day's  Work 68 

VIII.     The  Christian   Church 80 

IX.     The  Church's  Summons  to  the  Members 96 

X.     The  Minister's  Opportunity  for  Leadership 108 

XI.    The  Allies  of  the  Church 124 

XII.    The  Choice  of  a  Life  Work 136 


COLLEGE  VOLUNTARY  STUDY  COURSES 

"A  Challenge  to  Life  Service"  is  the  fourth  of  a  series  of 
text-books  known  as  College  Voluntary  Study  Courses.  The 
general  outline  for  this  curriculum  has  been  prepared  by  the 
Committee  on  Voluntary  Study  of  the  Council  of  North 
American  Student  Movements,  representing  the  Student 
Young  Men's  and  Young  Women's  Christian  Associations  and 
the  Student  Volunteer  Movement,  and  the  Sub-Committee 
on  College  Courses  of  the  Sunday  School  Council  of  Evangeli- 
cal Denominations,  representing  twenty-nine  communions. 
Therefore  the  text-books  are  planned  for  the  use  of  student 
classes  in  the  Sunday  School,  as  well  as  for  the  supplementary 
groups  on  the  campus.  The  present  text-book  has  been 
written  under  the  direction  of  these  Committees. 

The  text-books  are  not  suitable  for  use  in  the  academic 
curriculum,  as  they  have  been  definitely  planned  for  voluntary 
study  groups. 

This  series,  covering  four  years,  is  designed  to  form  a 
minimum  curriculum  for  the  voluntary  study  of  the  Bible, 
foreign  missions,  and  North  American  problems.  Daily  Bible 
Readings  are  printed  with  each  text-book.  The  student  view- 
point is  given  first  emphasis — what  are  the  student  interests  ? 
what  are  the  student  problems? 


INTRODUCTION 

In  the  midst  of  our  modern  world,  where  confusion  is  made 
more  confused  by  the  immense  publicity  that  is  given  to  all 
our  problems  and  shortcomings,  the  individual  Christian  man 
or  woman  wonders  in  a  kind  of  amazed  perplexity,  "What 
can  one  of  us  possibly  do  in  the  face  of  a  situation  like  this?" 

These  studies  are  intended  to  indicate  the  lines  along  which 
each  individual  may  work  out  the  answer  for  himself.  Fac- 
ing the  great  problems  of  the  modern  world,  an  attempt  is 
made  to  point  out  the  lines  of  Jesus'  solution,  and  to  examine 
frankly  whether  the  Christian  can  apply  them  as  he  meets 
present  day  conditions.  It  is  hoped  also  that  help  is  given 
in  the  discovery  of  how  one  may  make  the  entire  round  of 
life — working  hours  and  spare  time  alike — serve  the  Kingdom 
of  God. 

Readings  and  Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion  have 
been  omitted  from  Chapter  I,  which  is  introductory.  Daily 
Readings  have  also  been  omitted  from  Chapter  XII  in  order 
that  full  consideration  may  be  given  during  the  week  to  the 
actual  questions  raised  in  the  Study  for  the  Week. 

The  authors  wish  that  these  studies  shall  be  regarded  as 
suggestive.  The  themes  handled  are  of  such  consequence 
that  no  one  can  claim  any  finality  in  their  treatment. 

While  those  who  write  must  accept  final  responsibility,  this 
book  truly  represents  the  results  of  the  experience  of  many 
men  and  women  who  have  put  their  material  freely  at  the 
disposal  of  the  authors.  Throughout  its  whole  course,  the 
work  has  been  done  in  the  closest  cooperation  with  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Committee  on  Voluntary  Study  of  the  Council  of 
North  American  Student  Movements  and  the  members  of 
the  Sub-Committee  on  College  Courses  of  the  Sunday  School 
Council  of  Evangelical  Denominations ;  they  are  especially 
to  be  thanked  for  their  patience,  persistence,  and  courtesy  in 
constructive  suggestion. 


CHAPTER  I 

TENSION  POINTS  IN  THE  MODERN 
WORLD 

I 

As  he  looks  out  upon  his  work  in  Hfe,  the  first  impulse  of 
a  man  born  under  the  influence  of  liberty  is  finely  unselfish. 
Facing  the  world  as  yet  beyond  our  immediate  experience, 
each  one  of  us  wants  to  live  a  life  of  purpose  and  daring  in 
the  interests  of  mankind;  we  want  to  leave  the  Hfe  of  men 
better  for  our  having  been  a  part  of  it  all.  No  one  of  us  is 
without  some  conception  of  a  world  as  we  would  have  it ;  but 
as  we  plan  for  the  future  and  try  to  see  our  own  part  in  mak- 
ing wrong  right,  we  are  confused  and  bewildered.  The  enor- 
mous extent  and  infinite  complexity  of  our  modern  problems 
bafile  us :  where  can  a  person  begin  ?  what  can  one  individual 
do? 

II 

Our  bright  ideals  of  a  new  order  in  society  seem  remote  and 
impossible.  The  rich  stand  over  against  the  poor  through  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  labor  and  capital  raise  the 
noise  of  an  incessant  tumultuous  wrangling,  the  races  stand 
apart  in  suspicion  or  mix  in  sharp  and  bitter  conflict,  the 
nations  of  the  world  are  tearing  at  one  another's  throats.  Well 
may  we  ask,  What's  wrong  with  the  world? 

Vividly  we  realize  the  contrast  between  what  is  and  what 
ought  to  be  in  the  difference  between  the  rich  and  the  poor. 
There  is  enough  land  to  give  every  family  a  little  plot,  there 
is  enough  food  in  the  world  to  satisfy  everybody;  yet  every- 
where, even  in  our  new  American  cities,  the  poor  are  crammed 

1 


[I]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

into  terrible  tenements,  condemned  to  a  life  from  which  even 
common  decencies  are  debarred.  Along  Fifth  Avenue  in  New 
York,  along  Michigan  Avenue  in  Chicago,  rolls  the  long  line 
of  automobiles  bearing  those  upon  whose  maintenance  enough 
is  spent  to  provide  every  comfort  for  the  thousands  of  their 
fellow-creatures  who,  a  few  blocks  off,  awake  daily  to  a  grim 
and  desperate  struggle  for  mere  existence.  Blame  not  those 
who  ride — who  is  free  from  responsibility? 

And  he  who  knows  the  slums  of  America  and  of  Europe 
has  only  had  a  first  lesson  in  poverty.  Look  at  Asia.  We  know 
nothing  of  the  terrible  famines  that  leave  a  trail  of  death  and 
disease  across  India  and  China.  Not  thousands  or  hundreds 
of  thousands,  but  millions  upon  millions  live  with  want  staring 
them  in  the  face  every  day  of  their  lives. 

Yet,  over  against  the  desperate  condition  of  the  poor  must 
be  set  the  new  optimism  of  vigorous  leaders  in  the  social 
reform  of  our  own  days.  As  the  representative  of  a  class  of 
serious  students,  Edward  T.  Devine,  a  worker  at  once  scientific 
and  enthusiastic,  has  dared  to  proclaim  that  poverty  can  be 
abolished  in  America.  If  in  America,  why  not  everywhere? 
After  all,  there  may  be  something  for  us  to  do. 

Ill 

Again  the  difficulty  appears  in  the  labor  question.  It  seems 
to  have  appeared  among  us  as  a  great  conflict — strikes  and 
lock-outs,  wild  destruction  of  property  and  violent  reprisals, 
sullen  suspicion  and  furious  hate. 

The  story  of  the  process  that  has  built  up  our  modern 
system  has  been  told  many  times.^  A  kind  of  two-class  system 
has  been  created :  the  capitalists  have  all  the  capital,  plant,  and 
machinery;  the  workers,  just  their  ability  to  labor.  The'work- 
ers  have  no  interest  in  the  business  they  help  to  create,  they 
have  no  control  over  those  who  direct  their  work.  The  trade 
unions  have  been  organized  so  that  by  the  force  of  united 
effort  the  laborers  may  secure  certain  conditions  and  wages 


iSae  Rauschenbusch,  "  Christianizing  the  Social  Order.' 

2 


TENSION  POINTS  IN  THE  MODERN  WORLD  [I] 

that  they  consider  their  right.  The  two  groups  are  not  pulHng 
shoulder  to  shoulder  at  the  car  of  industry,  they  are  wasting 
their  strength  and  jeopardizing  the  world's  interests  in  a  con- 
tinual game  of  tug-of-war. 

This  relationship  between  labor  and  capital  has  been  called 
the  great  moral  problem  of  our  day.  It  is  a  problem  not  alone 
of  Europe  and  America.  Great  industrial  plants  are  being 
erected  in  the  Far  East.  There  are  possibiHties  of  exploitation 
there  even  beyond  what  has  ever  been  experienced  in  the 
West.' 

But  industrial  success  is  a  promise,  too.  The  new  combina- 
tions can  provide  for  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  humanity 
far  better  than  the  old  disorganized  system.  The  means  are 
to  hand  for  the  construction  of  a  fuller  and  richer  life ;  it  is 
the  misuse  of  these  wonderful  resources  that  is  creating  the 
difficulty.  Perhaps  we  are  of  the  generation  that  will  learn 
to  mold  this  great  complex  system  into  an  effective  instrument 
for  the  service  of  mankind.  If  our  industrial  life  be  once 
dominated  by  the  spirit  of  brotherhood,  that  spirit  will  find 
a  magic  expression  in  the  machinery  of  the  day.  Perhaps  the 
factories,  along  with  their  material  products,  will  yet  fashion 
contentment,  happiness,  and  peace  for  mankind. 

IV 

As  the  world  shrinks  in  size  under  the  influence  of  the 
wizards  of  modern  science  and  the  nations  become  next  door 
neighbors,  we  become  increasingly  conscious  of  sharp  race 
conflict  that  exists  in  various  forms  everywhere.  When  the 
contacts  were  few,  there  was  less  friction,  but  now,  not  only 
are  the  nations  close  together  but  the  races  are  mingling  in 
every  continent.  The  Orient  is  set  over  against  the  Occident, 
the  Teuton  is  set  over  against  the  Slav,  the  white  over  against 


2  "There  are  471,877  women  employed  in  the  private  and  government 
factories  in  Japan.  Speaking  broadly,  the  hours  of  labor  run  from  thirteen 
to  sixteen  hours  in  silk  factories,  twelve  to  fifteen  hours  in  weaving  factories, 
and  eleven  to  twelve  hours  in  cotton  mills." — From  "The  Christian  Move- 
ment in  Japan." 

3 


[I]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

the  black.  Age-long  racial  antagonisms  seem  to  be  beneath 
every  furious  outbreak  of  violence  in  the  history  of  man. 
Within  any  state  where  the  people  mix,  a  variety  of  unpleasant 
nicknames  attest  the  natural  opposition  that  one  breed  feels 
for  another.  The  history  of  Israel  is  a  pathetic  story  of  the 
unreasoning  hate  and  contempt  under  which  one  people  has 
suffered  for  thousands  of  years. 

But,  in  the  very  intensity  of  the  conflict  is  there  not  a 
condition  that  is  full  of  hope?  The  intertwining  of  interest 
that  was  revealed  when  the  great  war  broke  upon  the  world 
in  1914  seems  to  show  that  men  were  finding  it  desirable  to 
work  and  live  together.  Men  of  different  nations  and  races 
have  been  cooperating.  Let  us  not  dwell  upon  the  failures, 
but  realize  how  wonderful  is  the  measure  of  cooperation  that 
has  been  attained  in  the  face  of  the  tremendous  difficulties. 

There  has  been  enough  ugly  race  strife  within  the  borders 
of  the  United  States  to  make  any  American  hang  his  head. 
But  considering  the  number  and  diversit}'-  of  the  races  gathered 
together  and  the  freedom  and  intimacy  of  their  common  life, 
is  not  the  result  well-nigh  miraculous,  a  soHd  witness  of  the 
possibilities  of  racial  cooperation? 


Though  through  the  early  years  of  the  twentieth  century 
the  nations  were  arming  themselves  to  the  teeth,  the  optimists 
among  us  were  preaching  the  near  approach  of  peace  among 
men.  Arbitration  had  taken  the  place  of  national  blustering  in 
many  difficulties,  and  the  principle  seemed  to  work.  Then 
came  the  deluge. 

The  outcome  simply  revealed  the  evil  conditions  of  inter- 
national relationships.  Policies  of  unutterable  national  selfish- 
ness, underground  scheming,  political  tricks  and  devices  worthy 
of  barbarians,  sophisticated  cunning  be3^ond  the  dreams  of 
man,  the  interests  of  great  and  prosperous  people  made  the 
counters  in  a  desperate  gamble  of  statesmanship.  All  this  came 
to    light    to    the    horror    of    clean,    plain-thinking    men    and 

4 


TENSION  POINTS  IN  THE  MODERN  WORLD    [I] 

women.  The  people  of  every  nation  involved  on  both  sides 
were  called  out  to  defend  their  native  lands.  One  after  an- 
other the  nations  were  drawn  into  the  struggle,  and  the  end 
of  it  all  is  wrapped  in  the  deepest  mystery. 

One  thing  we  do  know — that  the  nations  have  been  working 
on  the  principle  of  selfishness  under  cover  of  much  pious 
talk,  alike  those  that  are  involved  in  the  war  and  those  that 
were  able  to  keep  out  of  it.  The  community  of  nations  is 
lawless,  like  a  "frontier"  town;  quarrels  are  settled  by  "six- 
shooters,"  the  biggest  bully  has  the  final  word.  We  are  tricked 
b}^  terms.  "National  honor"  is  one  of  them.  Not  so  very  long 
ago  men  used  to  consider  their  "personal  honor"  a  matter  out- 
side the  law,  and  fought  duels  about  it.  Now  a  man  who 
proposed  such  an  idea  would  be  considered  crazy  and  forthwith 
locked  up.  We  are  told  that  the  rulers  of  a  nation  are 
"trustees"  and  must  not  be  "generous"  with  the  nation's 
property.  That  was  the  attitude  of  many  officers  of  corpora- 
tions till  the  state  began  to  put  some  of  them  in  jail. 

Examine,  if  3'ou  can,  with  calm  dispassionate  inquiry  the 
story  of  "enlightened"  nations  in  China.  They  have  com- 
mitted crimes  precisely  like  those  committed  by  the  thief  who 
enters  our  home.    And  we  are  allowed  by  law  to  shoot  him. 

The  full  meaning  of  the  lesson  that  the  world  is  learning 
in  blood  and  pain  to-day  cannot  yet  be  understood.  But  surely 
the  whole  disposition  of  mankind  will  be  eager  for  some  new 
basis  of  relationship  that  will  prevent  the  recurrence  of  such  a 
stupendous  traged}'.  Not  alone  the  horror  of  destruction  and 
suffering,  but  the  vast  injustice  and  secret  schemings,  have 
made  international  transactions  odious  in  the  eyes  of  those 
who  have  the  remotest  spirit  of  fair  play.  What  an  oppor- 
tunity for  determined  men  and  women  in  the  reconstruction ! 

VI 

But  perhaps  worst  of  all  there  seems  to  be,  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  social  confusion,  no  place  where  one  may  turn  for 
personal  satisfaction.  Spiritual  unrest  seems  to  be  the  deep 
and  insistent  note  of  our  present  age.    It  fills  our  newspapers 

5 


[I]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

and  magazines ;  it  echoes  and  re-echoes  in  the  public  words 
of  our  leading  men  and  women  ;  it  inspires  a  low  and  irreverent 
humor  that  tears  at  the  very  souls  of  men ;  it  is  breathed 
between  friends  in  the  quiet  hours  where  our  real  thoughts 
are  shared.  Uncertainty,  amounting  almost  to  fear,  seems 
to  be  the  keynote  of  the  lives  of  men. 

We  do  seem  to  be  worse  ofif  than  our  fathers,  for  the 
critical  movement  that  rose  in  the  last  century  seems  every- 
where to  be  sweeping  away  everything  on  which  the  soul  of 
man  could  rest  securely.  Criticism  appears  like  a  roaring  lion 
seeking  whom  it  may  devour  and  a  pack  of  snapping  jackals 
follows  close  at  its  heels.  The  very  institutions  of  religion 
designed  to  bring  man  peace  have  suffered  along  with  all  the 
rest. 

Look  out  over  the  world  at  the  great  nations  that  have 
just  begun  to  stir.  Consider  China.  As  the  spirit  of  new 
education  advances,  the  old  religions  lose  their  hold.  Temples 
are  decaying,  worship  becomes  formal ;  the  old  faith  is  depart- 
ing and  life  is  becoming  secular.  One-quarter  of  the  human 
race  is  slipping  from  its  spiritual  moorings.  "Surely  never 
was  richer  freight  derelict  on  the  great  waters  of  time."  In 
Japan  it  is  nearly  the  same  story  over  again.  The  educated 
classes  are  becoming  agnostic;  they  find  no  comfort  in  the 
institutions  held  sacred  for  centuries.  The  people  will  all 
follow  this  lead.  But  surely,  we  cry,  the  religion  of  Moham- 
med still  stands.  Yes,  but  there  is  a  deep  note  of  unrest 
there  too.  The  progress  of  modern  civilization  has  exposed 
the  social  inefficiency  of  this  positive,  militant  faith ;  and  the 
numbers  of  its  troubled  followers  increase  daily.  By  com- 
parison they  perceive  its  fundamental  shortcomings.  India 
is  the  birthplace  of  religions.  Yet  one  of  the  most  sympa- 
thetic observers  of  the  life  and  aspirations  of  that  profoundly 
spiritual  people  sums  up  the  situation  :  "Hinduism  is  breaking 
up.  This  is  the  great  fact  which  has  to  be  realized.  The 
ancient  religion  of  India  is  breaking  up.  .  .  .  Each  of  its 
great  old  religious  ideas  is  fading  out  in  the  minds  of  her 
educated  men." 

6 


TENSION  POINTS  IN  THE  MODERN  WORLD    [I] 

Christians,  too,  face  a  critical  situation.  The  faith  of  our 
fathers  has  been  dehberately  asked  to  give  an  account  of 
itself.  Our  ideals,  our  methods  of  work,  our  churches,  have 
all  been  criticized  from  within  and  without  sharply  and  insist- 
ently. We  are  not  permitted  to  rest  comfortably  back  upon 
our  church  connections  and  thus  satisfy  the  difficulties  of 
our  souls. 

Be  it  remembered  that  peace  is  not  found  by  those  who 
have  cast  away  their  religious  faith.  The  disillusioned  Hindu, 
the  apostate  Mohammedan,  the  man  who  has  abandoned  the 
Christian  faith  of  his  childhood — these  are  not  happy  and 
satisfied.  Even  the  rehgious  faith  that  is  surely  inadequate 
seems  better  than  none.  We  do  not  escape  unrest  by  casting 
away  religion. 

The  real  meaning  of  all  this  is  that  man's  Hfe  is  intolerable 
without  real  spiritual  satisfaction,  and  that  he  will  accept  no 
second-best  substitute  for  reality.  What  the  world  needs  is 
a  new  race  of  men  and  women  who  will  courageously  face 
all  the  facts  of  life  and  bring  to  mankind,  through  their  own 
experiences  in  living,  a  spiritually  vital  and  socially  efficient 
faith  in  God. 

VII 

True  the  future  is  dark  with  menace,  but  it  is  also  bright 
with  hope.  We  would  not  minimize  the  evil,  it  is  fairly 
paralyzing  at  times.  But  strangely  persisting  everywhere  is 
the  conviction  that  there  is  something  better  ahead.  In- 
stinctively men  believe  that  this  universe  has  something  better 
to  offer  them  than  has  yet  emerged,  that  God  has  something 
still  to  come.  People  are  not  content  to  lie  down  and  die 
quietly  without  hope.  The}^  struggle  and  strain  and  fight 
because  they  will  not  utterly  despair.  Wherever  the  standard 
of  progress  is  raised  thousands  flock  to  it. 

Let  us  then  see  if  it  is  not  possible  to  discover  together 
the  way  through  these  difficulties.  Let  us  see  if  it  is  not 
possible  to  find  out  how  each  individual  under  God  may  play 
his  part  in  this  world  enterprise. 

7 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM 

Daily  Readings 

How  can  all  these  problems  be  solved? 

The  followers  of  Jesus  claim  that  in  Him  and  in  His 
principles  lies  the  only  sure  hope  for  an  enduring  and  whole- 
some social  order,  and  for  an  abundant  and  satisfying  spiritual 
life  for  the  individual.  They  maintain  that  only  thus  can  the 
individual  work  in  harmony  with  God's  plan  for  the  world. 

But  can  Jesus  really  have  a  message  for  this  modern  world? 
He  lived  long  ago,  spent  His  days  among  the  people  of  a 
small  and  despised  nation  under  conditions  of  life  far  remote 
from  our  present  complex  existence :  what  could  He  know  of 
our  problems?  And  yet  somehow  His  influence  has  lasted 
through  the  centuries,  and  seems  more  powerful  today  than 
ever  before.  Perhaps  He  has  some  real  answer  for  our 
present  questions.  Perhaps  the  conditions  He  faced  were 
not  so  fundamentally  different  as  we  have  been  led  to  suppose. 

Just  what  was  the  movement  that  Jesus  inaugurated?  He 
seemed  to  be  announcing  a  new  kind  of  Kingdom  in  the  world. 
What  were  the  characteristics  of  this  new  enterprise? 

First  Day  :  When  Jesus  took  up  the  task  of  establishing 
the  Kingdom,  He  did  it  with  a  full  understanding  of  the 
reality  of  the  social  conditions  about  Him.  He  took  up  the 
stern  message  of  John  the  Baptist,  which  dealt  not  with  com- 
ing glories  of  the  Hebrew  race,  but  with  plain  moral  crooked- 
ness.    (Compare  Luke  3  :  7-14.) 

And  in  those  days  cometh  John  the  Baptist,  preach- 
ing in  the  wilderness  of  Judsea,   saying,   Repent  ye; 
8 


THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [II-i] 

for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.  For  this  is 
he  that  was  spoken  of  through  Isaiah  the  prophet, 
saying, 

The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness, 

Make  ye  ready  the  way  of  the  Lord, 

Make  his  paths  straight. 
Now  John  himself  had  his  raiment  of  camel's  hair, 
and  a  leathern  girdle  about  his  loins ;  and  his  food  was 
locusts  and  wild  honey.  Then  went  out  unto  him 
Jerusalem,  and  all  Judaea,  and  all  the  region  round 
about  the  Jordan;  and  they  were  baptized  of  him 
in  the  river  Jordan,  confessing  their  sins.  But  when 
he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  coming 
to  his  baptism,  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  offspring  of 
vipers,  who  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come?  Bring  forth  therefore  fruit  worthy  of  re- 
pentance :  and  think  not  to  say  within  yourselves. 
We  have  Abraham  to  our  father :  for  I  say  unto  you, 
that  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children 
unto  Abraham.  And  even  now  the  axe  lieth  at  the 
root  of  the  trees :  every  tree  therefore  that  bringeth 
not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the 
fire.— Matt.  3  :  i-io. 

Now  when  he  heard  that  John  was  delivered  up,. 
he  withdrew  into  Galilee;  and  leaving  Nazareth,  he 
came  and  dwelt  in  Capernaum,  which  is  by  the  sea, 
in  the  borders  of  Zebulun  and  Naphtali.  From 
that  time  began  Jesus  to  preach,  and  to  say,  Repent 
ye;  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. — Matt. 
4:  12,  13,  17. 

And  when  later  John  sent  his  disciples  to  Jesus,  Jesus 
answered  in  words  that  showed  plainly  enough  His  deep  sense 
of  the  social  significance  of  His  mission. 

Now  when  John  heard  in  the  prison  the  works  of 
the  Christ,  he  sent  by  his  disciples  and  said  unto  him, 
Art  thou  he  that  cometh,  or  look  we  for  another? 
And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Go  and  tell 
John   the   things   which   ye   hear   and   see :  the   Wind 


[II-2]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

receive  their  sight,  and  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are 
cleansed,  and  the  deaf  hear,  and  the  dead  are  raised 
up,  and  the  poor  have  good  tidings  preached  to 
them.— Matt,  ii  :  2-5. 

What  was  the  significance  of  Jesus'  acceptance  of  baptism  at 
the  hands  of  John? 

Remembering  the  emphasis  of  the  Pharisees  on  externals, 
how  must  they  have  received  the  message  of  John? 

What  particular  forms  of  injustice  must  a  true  messenger 
of  the  Kingdom  fight  today? 

Why  should  repentance  have  been  mentioned  so  promi- 
nently in  the  call  of  the  Kingdom? 

Second  Day  :  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Jesus  placed 
Himself  in  line  with  the  great  social  reformers  of  His  race — 
the  prophets  of  Israel.  Coming  from  all  ranks  in  society, 
this  group  of  heroic  men  were  one  in  their  stern  denunciation 
of  national  unrighteousness.  The  descriptions  of  the  condi- 
tions they  attack  have  a  strangely  modern  ring — oppression 
of  the  poor,  dishonesty  in  trade,  and  political  knavery.  Note 
that  when  He  wanted  to  define  His  mission,  He  used  the 
very  words  of  one  of  these  reformers. 

And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had  been 
brought  up :  and  he  entered,  as  his  custom  was,  into 
the  synagogue  on  the  sabbath  day,  and  stood  up  to 
read.  And  there  was  delivered  unto  him  the  book 
of  the  prophet  Isaiah.  And  he  opened  the  book,  and 
found  the  place  where  it  was  written, 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me. 

Because  he  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings 
to  the  poor : 

He    hath    sent    me    to    proclaim    release    to    the 
captives. 

And  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind. 

To  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised. 

To  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord. 
And  he  closed  the  book,  and  gave  it  back  to  the  atten- 
10 


THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [II-3] 

dant,  and  sat  down :  and  the  eyes  of  all  in  the  syna- 
gogue were  fastened  on  him.  And  he  began  to  say 
unto  them,  To-day  hath  this  scripture  been  fulfilled 
in  your  ears. — Luke  4:  16-21. 

How  would  you  paraphrase  this  passage  so  as  to  make  clear 
the  meaning  of  Jesus'  mission  today  f 

Third  Day  :  Plainly  Jesus  had  to  face  many  of  the  problems 
that  occasion  so  much  anxiety  today.  Far  from  being  unac- 
quainted with  race  prejudice,  He  lived  in  the  very  meeting- 
place  of  nations.  Can  you  discover  any  case  of  race  antago- 
nism more  intense  than  that  which  existed  between  Jew  and 
Samaritan?  What  examples  in  the  records  show  how  He 
deliberately  cut  across  this  deep-seated  prejudice  of  His 
people? 

It  is  significant  to  note  the  cause  which  led  to  a  concerted 
attack  upon  His  life. 

But  of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you.  There  were  many 
widows  in  Israel  in  the  days  of  Elijah,  when  the 
heaven  was  shut  up  three  years  and  six  months,  when 
there  came  a  great  famine  over  all  the  land ;  and  unto 
none  of  them  was  Elijah  sent,  but  only  to  Zarephath, 
in  the  land  of  Sidon,  unto  a  woman  that  was  a  widow. 
And  there  were  many  lepers  in  Israel  in  the  time  of 
Elisha  the  prophet ;  and  none  of  them  was  cleansed, 
but  only  Naaman  the  Syrian.  And  they  were  all  filled 
with  wrath  in  the  synagogue,  as  they  heard  these 
things ;  and  they  rose  up,  and  cast  him  forth  out  of 
the  city,  and  led  him  unto  the  brow  of  the  hill 
whereon  their  city  was  built,  that  they  might  throw 
him  down  headlong. — Luke  4:25-29. 

Hoiv  can  we  justify  race  feeling  in  the  face  of  Jesus' 
attitude? 

The  record  of  His  life  is  full  of  His  dealings  with  the 
Gentiles ;  and  while  He  first  confined  His  efforts  to  His  own 
people,  the  surest  witness  of  the  breadth  of  His  teaching  is 

11 


[11-4]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

that  after  His  death,  His  disciples  carried  the  message  to  all 
the  world. 

IVhat  was  it  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  that  seemed  to  force 
the  early  apostles  out  into  the  wider  mission? 

Fourth  Day:  If  the  need  today  is  for  vital  spiritual 
leadership,  was  not  the  demand  many  times  more  urgent  in 
Jesus'  day?  We  have  all  known  those  whose  religion  con 
sists  of  a  set  of  rules  hard  to  be  followed.  That  was  the 
official  religion  of  Palestine,  represented  by  the  Pharisees. 
These  lived  a  life  of  minute  observance  of  laws  and  insisted 
that  such  was  the  very  essence  of  obedience  to  God.  Have 
you  noticed  that  words  seem  inadequate  to  express  His  tower- 
ing indignation  against  those  who  tried  to  bind  vital  religious 
experience  within  a  list  of  regulations? 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites! 
for  ye  tithe  mint  and  anise  and  cummin,  and  have 
left  undone  the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  justice, 
and  mercy,  and  faith :  but  these  ye  ought  to  have 
done,  and  not  to  have  left  the  other  undone.  Ye 
blind  guides,  that  strain  out  the  gnat,  and  swallow 
the  camel ! 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites ! 
for  ye  cleanse  the  outside  of  the  cup  and  of  the 
platter,  but  within  they  are  full  from  extortion  and 
excess.  Thou  blind  Pharisee,  cleanse  first  the  inside 
of  the  cup  and  of  the  platter,  that  the  outside  thereof 
may  become  clean  also. — Matt.  23 :  23-26. 

See  the  whole  passage.  Matt.  22, :  13-36. 

What  was  the  central  lack  in  the  religion  of  the  Pharisees? 
What  elements  of  the  religion  of  the  Pharisees  still  persist 
today  f 

Fifth  Day  :  We  are  not  without  multiplied  instances  of 
injustice  to  individuals,  but  the  storm  of  protest  they  arouse 
shows  plainly  enough  our  recognition  of  the  rights  of  each 
single  human  being.     The  exception  in  our  time  was  the  rule 

12 


THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [II-6] 

of  Jesus'  day — the  individual  had  few  rights  to  be  respected. 
It  is  difficult  for  us  to  realize  how  revolutionary  was  Jesus' 
teaching  at  this  point.  May  not  this  parable  well  be  called 
the  Magna  Charta  of  the  Individual? 

And  he  spake  unto  them  this  parable,  saying,  What 
man  of  you,  having  a  hundred  sheep,  and  having 
lost  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine 
in  the  wilderness,  and  go  after  that  which  is  lost, 
until  he  find  it?  And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he 
layeth  it  on  his  shoulders,  rejoicing.  And  when  he 
Cometh  home,  he  calleth  together  his  friends  and  his 
neighbors,  saying  unto  them.  Rejoice  with  me,  for  I 
have  found  my  sheep  which  was  lost.  I  say  unto 
you,  that  even  so  there  shall  be  joy  in  heaven  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than  over  ninety 
and  nine  righteous  persons,  who  need  no  repentance. 
—Luke  15:3-7- 

Why  should  there  be  more  joy  in  heaven  over  the  one  than 
over  the  ninety  and  nine? 

How  can  we  measure  the  value  of  a  person? 

What  would  happen  today  if  every  individual  had  his 
rights  as  Jesus  saw  them? 

Sixth  Day  :  Beyond  the  mere  recognition  of  the  supreme 
value  of  the  individual,  Jesus  taught  and  lived  right  relation- 
ships.   As  sons  of  one  Father,  we  are  all  brothers. 

But  the  Pharisees,  when  they  heard  that  he  had 
put  the  Sadducees  to  silence,  gathered  themselves 
together.  And  one  of  them,  a  lawyer,  asked  him  a 
question,  trying  him :  Teacher,  which  is  the  great 
commandment  in  the  law?  And  he  said  unto  him. 
Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  wath  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This 
is  the  great  and  first  commandment.  And  a  second 
like  unto  it  is  this.  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself.  On  these  two  commandments  the  whole  law 
hangeth,  and  the  prophets. — Matt.  22 :  34-40. 
13 


[II-7]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 
Jesus  offered  Himself  as  a  model  of  true  brotherliness. 

A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love 
one  another ;  even  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also 
love  one  another.  By  this  shall  all  men  know  that 
ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love  one  to  another. 
—John  13:34,35. 

What  acts  of  Jesus  exemplified  His  brotherliness? 
Are  Christians  really  more  brotherly  than  other  people? 

Seventh  Day  :  The  supreme  fact  about  Jesus  was  that  He 
came  into  the  world  as  the  representative  and  very  embodi- 
ment of  a  Cause.  Every  truly  great  leader  regards  himself 
as  a  part  of  his  cause.  What  one  of  them  would  care  for 
flattery  in  the  face  of  a  crisis?  Each  would  probably  answer: 
"Never  mind  about  me,  are  you  with  us  or  against  us?" 
This  was  true  of  Jesus;  the  cause  of  the  Kingdom  of  God 
in  the  w^orld  was  His  cause.  True  loyalty  to  Him  involved 
loyalty  to  the  Kingdom  as  well ;  if  it  did  not  include  both. 
He  would  have  none  of  it. 

Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  but  he  that 
doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  Many 
will  say  to  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  did  we  not 
prophesy  by  thy  name,  and  by  thy  name  cast  out 
demons,  and  by  thy  name  do  many  mighty  works? 
And  then  will  I  profess  unto  them.  I  never  knew  you : 
depart  from  me.  ye  that  work  iniquity. — Matt.  7 :  21-23. 

Compare  with  this  passage  Mark  3 :  31-35. 

But  the  Kingdom  is  the  Kingdom  of  God.  The  laws  of 
the  Kingdom  are  the  laws  of  God — the  expression  of  His 
cliaracter  and  purpose.  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  not 
only  to  show  God's  fatherly  character,  but  to  make  plain  His 
will  for  human  life. 

He   that   receiveth  you   receiveth   me,   and  he   that 
rcceiveth  me  receiveth  him  that  sent  me. — Matt.  10:  40. 
14 


THE  IDEALS  OP  THE  KINGDOM  [II-s] 

In  the  prayer  Jesus  taught  His  disciples  we  find :  "Thy 
Kingdom  come ;  Thy  will  be  done,  as  in  heaven,  so  on  earth." 
Jesus  conceived  His  own  mission  as  ever  working  with  God 
to  achieve  His  purpose  in  the  world. 

What  arc  the  essential  characteristics  of  Jesus'  enterprise? 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

The  fact  is  that  Jesus  faced  a  world  torn  by  race  antagonism 
and  class  rivalry,  seething  with  political  revolt  and  spiritual 
unrest,  as  intense  as  anything  we  know  to-day.  There  were 
thousands  of  people  just  as  dissatisfied  with  present  condi- 
tions then  as  we  are  today,  just  as  eager  to  make  wrong  things 
right.  Most  of  them  thought  that  the  solution  lay  in  a 
national  victory :  some  thought  this  would  come  by  a  miracle 
of  God ;  others  through  a  successful  political  revolution 
against  their  Roman  overlords.  There  were  a  few  who  hoped 
for  a  spiritual  deliverance  from  the  sorrows  and  sins  of  life. 
But  for  all,  this  aspiration  was  summed  up  in  the  confident 
hope  of  the  coming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Jesus  met  this 
very  aspiration  with  His  claim  to  be  the  One  who  would 
fulfil  their  hopes,  the  Founder  of  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

He  knew  well  that  the  moment  He  took  upon  His  lips  the 
words,  "the  Kingdom  of  God,"  He  would  have  to  deal  with 
the  great  national  movement  of  the  Jews.  The  Pharisees 
were  merely  waiting  in  sullen  separation  for  a  miracle,  but 
the  Zealots  were  ready  to  rise  in  revolt  at  a  moment's  notice 
behind  the  Coming  One  who  would  destroy  their  enemies  and 
bring  power  and  dominion  to  Israel. 

In  those  grim  forty  days  in  the  wilderness,  of  whose  strain 
and  stress  we  can  only  guess  a  small  part,  the  Carpenter  of 
Galilee  fought  out  the  great  battle  of  His  life.  Many  things 
are  uncertain  about  the  life  of  His  times,  but  one  thing  we 
do  know — He  came  back  into  the  world  preaching  a  Kingdom 
very  different  in  character  from  that  awaited  by  the  people. 
Some  of  the  characteristics  of  that  Kingdom  we  have  already 

15 


[II-s]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

noted.  He  took  the  title  of  leadership,  Messiah;  but  He  had 
no  intention  of  fulfilling  the  popular  ideal  of  the  Anointed 
One.  To  the  Zealot  with  half-drawn  sword  He  preached  a 
Gospel  of  universal  brotherhood,  love  of  enemies,  service 
and  sacrifice.  To  the  Pharisee,  secure  in  his  religious 
monopoly.  He  preached  a  Kingdom  of  moral  values  in  which 
the  despised  pubhcans  by  obedience  might  obtain  high  seats. 

In  His  teaching  Jesus  spoke  much  of  the  Kingdom.  It  is 
not  strange  that  the  conception  should  appear  many-sided. 
Very  often  He  referred  to  it  simply  as  the  rule  of  God  in 
the  human  heart.  Again,  as  when  He  says  that  he  who  is 
least  in  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  greater  than  John  the  Baptist, 
He  meant  a  body  of  human  beings.  It  is  presented  as  here 
now  and  growing  steadily  among  the  people,  and  it  is  clearly 
spoken  of  as  coming  in  the  future.  The  parable  of  the  wheat 
and  the  tares  shows  that  He  conceived  the  Kingdom  as  grow- 
ing up  along  with  the  evil  in  the  world.  Study  with  the  help 
of  a  standard  commentary  these  various  conceptions  :  Matt. 
6  and  13.  It  is  not  possible  here  to  discuss  in  detail  these 
passages.^ 

Our  modern  understanding  of  the  Kingdom  comprehends 
these  various  aspects.  Regarding  carefully  both  the  social 
and  the  individual  sides,  we  can  think  of  the  Kingdom  as  a 
kind  of  new  community  in  which  God's  law  of  love  prevails. 
It  is  made  up  of  men  and  women  who  are  trying  to  do  God's 
will  in  the  everyday  affairs  of  life.  It  is  more  than  a  collec- 
tion of  individuals  who  have  pledged  their  loyalty  to  their 
Leader.  The  followers  of  Jesus  are  continuall}^  seeking  to 
bridge  the  gap  between  conditions  as  they  are  and  Jesus' 
ideals  for  societ3^  They  are  undertaking  a  great  corporate 
mission — the  making  over  of  this  world  into  a  place  of  service, 
peace  and  happiness.  The  Kingdom  is  growing  up  slowly 
in  the  world  as  it  is,  toward  a  perfect  ideal  that  will  be 
realized  some  day. 


1  Consult  Hastings'  "Dictionary  of  Christ  and  the  Gospels,"  Art.,  "Kingdom 
of  God;"  E.  F.  Scott,  "The  Kingdom  and  the  Messiah;"  A.W.Hitchcock, 
"  The  Psychologj'  of  Jesus;"  or  any  standard  Bible  dictionary. 

16 


THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [Us] 

Professor  Cairns  suggests:  "The  goal  of  the  entire  life  of 
the  Christian  is  the  realizing  of  the  world-wide  Kingdom, 
the  supreme  ethical  category  of  the  teaching  of  Jesus.  In 
everj'thing  the  disciple  is  to  seek  first  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
to  live  for  the  reaHzing  of  a  universal  society  united  in  the 
bonds  of  love." 


II 

It  is  clear  that  the  word  "Kingdom"  may  lead  to  a  mis- 
apprehension of  the  character  of  this  new  community.  The 
Kingdom  is  "rather  the  family  than  the  empire  of  God."  In 
the  Kingdom  God  is  a  Father,  and  Jesus  has  left  us  plain 
words  to  indicate  that  God's  Fatherhood  is  to  be  interpreted 
as  wisdom  to  understand  our  needs  and  willingness  to  give 
far  above  earthly  fatherhood.  God  gives  the  law  of  the 
Kingdom,  but  would,  as  a  Father,  win  us  to  obedience. 

Under  such  circumstances,  since  God  is  the  Father  of  all, 
the  Kingdom  knows  no  division  of  class  or  race ;  its  doors 
are  open  to  every  human  soul.  The  child  of  the  Kingdom 
realizes  his  direct  relation  to  his  Father  through  the  simplest 
process  of  intercourse — prayer.  "Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given 
to  you ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  the  door  will  be 
opened."  In  thanksgiving,  aspiration,  communion,  and  peti- 
tion, man  meets  God  face  to  face. 

It  is  plain  that  brotherhood  is  the  ver}'-  foundation  of  the 
Kingdom.  The  brotherhood  spoken  of  by  Jesus  is  positive. 
When  He  was  about  to  give  His  life  for  men,  He  told  His 
disciples  to  love  one  another  as  He  loved  them.  Brotherhood 
rises  to  its  full  height  when  it  conforms  to  such  a  demand 
as  this  :  "Love  your  enemies,  do  good  to  those  who  hate  you. 
bless  those  who  curse  you,  pray  for  those  who  abuse  you." 

The  individual  tests  come  every  hour  of  every  da}'. 
Brotherhood  was  realized  when  David  Livingstone  gave  his 
life  to  the  backward  races  of  Africa,  when  Jerry  McAuley 
founded  his  mission  for  the  wrecks  in  the  slums ;  it  is  realized 
daily  whenever   in   home,   in   business,   on   the   street   car,    in 

17 


lll-s]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

the  school,  a  Christian  acts  as  if  he  really  believed  that  each 
person  he  meets  is  a  child  of  God  holding  equal  rights  in 
His  world. 

Socially,  brotherhood  is  realized  in  every  elevating  law  of 
custom  that  opens  opportunity  to  men  and  women.  The  act 
of  Parliament  that  freed  slaves  in  all  British  possessions 
was  an  act  of  brotherhood.  Our  educational  laws  are  acts 
of  brotherhood.  The  mere  courteous  customs  that  make  our 
daily  work  easier  are  acts  of  brotherhood.  We  shall  add  to 
these  social  acts  of  fraternity  every  year. 

It  is  plain  that  the  Kingdom  is  absolutely  moral  and  spiritual 
in  its  aim.  Repentance  is  one  of  the  chief  qualifications  for 
entrance — repentance,  no  mere  annoyance  over  a  failure,  but 
a  deep  determination  to  turn  our  back  upon  evil  and  never 
touch  it  again — that  is  the  requirement.  This  means  more 
than  an  individual  avoidance  of  evil.  It  means  a  hatred  of 
sin  so  real  that  the  Christian  really  assumes  the  burden  of 
the  wrongs  of  the  community  and  sets  about  eradicating  such 
wrongs  with  the  same  determination  as  he  would  attack  an 
evil  habit  within  himself.  The  Kingdom  is  concerned  with 
real  results — "bringing  forth  fruit."  Not  mere  words  nor 
worshipful  motions,  but  loj^al  action — that  is  the  way  of  the 
Kingdom. 

Ill 

Certainly  if  such  a  new  community  can  be  established  in 
the  world,  it  will  mean  the  solution  of  our  vexing  problems 
— poverty,  race  antagonism,  class  rivalries,  national  conflict, 
business  immorality,  spiritual  unrest.  It  would  mean  a  new 
life  for  the  individual  and  a  new  order  for  society.  The  new 
life  for  the  individual  is  spiritual  satisfaction  in  a  sense  of 
real  communion  with  God ;  the  new  order  of  society  is  a 
social  existence  organized  in  brotherhood,  working  out  the 
will  of  God  in  its  corporate  life. 

But  plain  common  sense  seems  to  ask,  "What  is  the  use  of 
talking  of  a  Kingdom  like  this  if  there  is  no  possibility  of 
realizing  it  in  a  world  like  ours?" 

18 


THE  IDEALS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [Us] 

Sl'ggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

Why  do  Christians  ask  us  to  turn  back  to  Jesus  for  the  solu- 
tion of  our  modern  problems? 

What  were  the  leading  elements  in  Jesus'  idea  of  the  King- 
dom? How  did  He  differ  from  the  current  conception 
of  the  Jews? 

Hozv  would  you  define  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  ynodern  terms? 

What  effect  would  the  acceptance  of  Jesus'  ideals  have  at 
the  tension  points  in  modern  life? 

What  changes  would  Jesus'  ideas  make  in  the  relation- 
ships between  labor  and  capital?    Are  these  changes  possible? 

Is  poverty  a  "necessary  evil"?  Why  are  people  poor? 
Does  Jesus  throw  any  light  upon  the  problem? 

Why  is  race  prejudice  so  persistent?  How  can  we  get 
people  of  different  races  to  live  together  as  brothers? 

What  are  the  chief  causes  of  international  friction?  Can 
these  be  overcome?  Are  Jesus'  ideals  for  the  relation  among 
individuals  applicable  to  nations? 

What  do  you  think  are  the  real  causes  of  spiritual  unrest? 
How  can  these  be  satisfied? 


19 


CHAPTER  III 


CAN  JESUS'  NEW  ORDER  BE  REALIZED? 

Daily  Readings 

Nineteen  hundred  years  have  passed  since  the  new  King- 
dom was  inaugurated  by  its  Founder.  If  it  is  the  real  solution, 
why  do  we  find  ourselves  in  our  present  condition?  Why  has 
the  Kingdom  progressed  so  slowly?  Does  past  progress  give 
us  hope  that  final  victory  is  possible? 

First  Day  :  If  you  ask  anyone  today  why  there  are  not 
more  Christians,  they  will  probably  answer :  "People  are  un- 
wilHng  to  be  followers  of  Jesus."  But  Jesus  had  a  different 
idea.     IVhat  is  suggested  as  the  reason  in  His  words? 

And  Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities  and  the  vil- 
lages, teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching 
the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner 
of  disease  and  all  manner  of  sickness.  But  when  he 
saw  the  multitudes,  he  was  moved  with  compassion 
for  them,  because  they  were  distressed  and  scattered, 
as  sheep  not  having  a  shepherd.  Then  saith  he  unto 
his  disciples,  The  harvest  indeed  is  plenteous,  but 
the  laborers  are  few.  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of 
the  harvest,  that  he  send  forth  laborers  into  his 
harvest. — Matt.  9 :  35-38. 

Was  Jesus  right  in  His  idea  that  people  are  really  interested 
in  religion f 

How  many  workers  has  Jesus  in  the  world?  If  every 
worker  did  his  part,  would  the  Kingdom  come  at  once? 

Second    Day  :    There    seems    to   be   no   doubt   about   Jesus' 
20 


CAN  JESUS'  ORDER  BE  REALIZED?      [III-2] 

insistence  upon  the  responsibility  of  every  individual  to  do 
his  part.  What  could  be  more  complete  than  His  condemna- 
tion of  the  man  who  refused  to  do  his  share  because  he  felt 
he  could  do  so  little? 

For  it  is  as  when  a  man,  going  into  another  coun- 
try, called  his  own  servants,  and  delivered  unto  them 
his  goods.  And  unto  one  he  gave  five  talents,  to 
another  two,  to  another  one ;  to  each  according  to 
his  several  ability;  and  he  went  on  his  journey. 
Straightway  he  that  received  the  five  talents  went  and 
traded  with  them,  and  made  other  five  talents.  In 
like  manner  he  also  that  received  the  two  gained 
other  two.  But  he  that  received  the  one  went  away 
and  digged  in  the  earth,  and  hid  his  lord's  money. 
Now  after  a  long  time  the  lord  of  those  servants 
Cometh,  and  maketh  a  reckoning  with  them.  And  he 
that  received  the  five  talents  came  and  brought  other 
five  talents,  saying.  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto  me 
five  talents :  lo,  I  have  gained  other  five  talents.  His 
lord  said  unto  him,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant :  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
I  will  set  thee  over  many  things;  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord.  And  he  also  that  received  the  two 
talents  came  and  said,  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto 
me  two  talents :  lo,  I  have  gained  other  two  talents. 
His  lord  said  unto  him,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant :  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
I  will  set  thee  over  many  things;  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord.  And  he  also  that  had  received  the 
one  talent  came  and  said,  Lord,  I  knew  thee  that  thou 
art  a  hard  man,  reaping  where  thou  didst  not  sow, 
and  gathering  where  thou  didst  not  scatter ;  and  I  was 
afraid,  and  went  away  and  hid  thy  talent  in  the  earth : 
lo,  thou  hast  thine  own.  But  his  lord  answered  and 
said  unto  him.  Thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant, 
thou  knewest  that  I  reap  where  I  sowed  not.  and 
gather  where  I  did  not  scatter;  thou  oughtest  there- 
fore to  have  put  my  money  to  the  bankers,  and  at 
my  coming  I  should  have  received  back  mine  own 
21 


[III-3]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

with  interest.  Take  ye  away  therefore  the  talent 
from  him.  and  give  it  unto  him  that  hath  the  ten 
talents.— Matt.  25  :  14-28. 

How  far  is  the  failure  of  Christians  to  make  use  of  their 
ordinary  capabilities  responsible  for  the  slow  progress  of  the 
Kingdom  f 

What  would  happen  in  any  community  if  every  idle  "one- 
talent"  Christian  would  do  his  duty? 

Third  Day  :  Are  the  most  prominent  religious  leaders 
always  the  greatest  helpers  of  the  cause  of  the  Kingdom? 
Usually  we  do  pick  out  the  most  prominent  men,  but  note 
how  strongly  Jesus  felt  that  the  religious  leaders  of  His  day 
were  hindering  His  cause. 

But  woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  ! 
because  ye  shut  the  kingdom  of  heaven  against  men  : 
for  ye  enter  not  in  yourselves,  neither  suffer  ye  them 
that  are  entering  in  to  enter. 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites ! 
for  ye  compass  sea  and  land  to  make  one  proselyte ; 
and  when  he  is  become  so,  ye  make  him  twofold 
more  a  son  of  hell  than  yourselves. 

Woe  unto  you,  ye  blind  guides,  that  say,  Whoso- 
ever shall  swear  by  the  temple,  it  is  nothing;  but 
whosoever  shall  swear  by  the  gold  of  the  temple,  he 
is  a  debtor.  Ye  fools  and  blind :  for  which  is  greater, 
the  gold,  or  the  temple  that  hath  sanctified  the  gold? 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites ! 
for  ye  tithe  mint  and  anise  and  cummin,  and  have 
left  undone  the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  justice, 
and  mercy,  and  faith :  but  these  ye  ought  to  have  done, 
and  not  to  have  left  the  other  undone. — Matt.  2^ : 
13-17,23. 

What  was  wrong  with  the  religion  of  the  Pharisees?  Why 
did  Jesus  consider  it  a  hindrance?  When  is  a  religious 
leader  a  hindrance  to  the  cause  of  Christianity? 

22 


CAN  JESUS'  ORDER  BE  REALIZEDF      [III-4] 

In  what  ways  is  it  possible  for  religious  organisations 
actually  to  block  the  coming  of  the  Kingdom  f 

What  great  non-Christian  religion  arose  as  a  protest  against 
corrupt  Christianity t 

Fourth  Day  :  To  what  extent  was  Jesus  justified  in  His 
fears  about  wealth  as  a  hindrance  to  the  progress  of  the 
Kingdom  f  We  are  always  explaining  away  Jesus'  exceedingly 
plain  words  about  material  possessions.  Elaborate  explana- 
tions have  been  urged  to  tone  His  startling  statement  about 
the  camel  and  the  needle's  eye.  But  what  is  the  plain  meaning 
of  these  words  f 

And  behold,  one  came  to  him  and  said,  Teacher, 
what  good  thing  shall  I  do,  that  I  may  have  eternal 
life?  And  he  said  unto  him.  Why  askest  thou  me 
concerning  that  which  is  good?  One  there  is  who  is 
good:  but  if  thou  wouldest  enter  into  life,  keep  the 
commandments.  He  saith  unto  him.  Which?  And 
Jesus  said,  Thou  shalt  not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery.  Thou  shalt  not  steal.  Thou  shalt  not  bear 
false  witness,  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother; 
and,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.  The 
young  man  saith  unto  him,  All  these  things  have  I 
observed :  what  lack  I  yet  ?  Jesus  said  unto  him, 
If  thou  wouldest  be  perfect,  go,  sell  that  which  thou 
hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have 
treasure  in  heaven :  and  come,  follow  me.  But  when 
the  young  man  heard  the  saying,  he  went  away  sor- 
rowful; for  he  was  one  that  had  great  possessions. 

And  Jesus  said  unto  his  disciples.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  It  is  hard  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And  again  I  say  unto  you, 
It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  a  needle's  eye. 
than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God. — Matt.   19  :  16-24. 

Clearly  Jesus'  experiences  with  men  led  Him  to  feel  the 
greatest  concern  regarding  the  effect  of  wealth  upon  the  cause 
of  His  Kingdom. 

23 


[I1I-5]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Does  experience  today  justify  Jesus'  fears? 
Why  does  wealth  tend  to  hinder  the  progress  of  the  King- 
dom?   May  small  possessions  be  an  equal  difUculty? 

Fifth  Day  :  Jesus  never  gave  any  promise  that  the  King- 
dom would  come  unless  men  believed  in  it  enough  to  make 
any  sacrifice  necessary  to  its  realization.  So  often  we  have 
thought  of  Christianity  as  intended  merely  to  bring  personal 
satisfaction  and  comfort,  of  salvation  as  a  means  of  avoid- 
ing the  consequences  of  sins  repeatedly  committed.  Jesus 
thought  that,  for  the  interest  of  His  Cause,  no  sacrifice  was 
too  great.  Salvation  to  Him  was  a  means  of  getting  com- 
pletely rid  of  evil.  His  Kingdom  could  not  come  unless 
men  were  willing  to  go  to  any  lengths. 

And  if  thy  hand  cause  thee  to  stumble,  cut  it  oflf: 
it  is  good  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  maimed,  rather 
than  having  thy  two  hands  to  go  into  hell,  into  the 
unquenchable  fire.  And  if  thy  foot  cause  thee  to 
stumble,  cut  it  off :  it  is  good  for  thee  to  enter  into 
life  halt,  rather  than  having  thy  two  feet  to  be  cast 
into  hell.  And  if  thine  eye  cause  thee  to  stumble, 
cast  it  out :  it  is  good  for  thee  to  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God  with  one  eye,  rather  than  having  two 
eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell. — Mark  9 :  43-47. 

It  is  easy  to  throw  the  blame  on  others.  How  far  have  we 
failed  in  our  duty  to  the  Cause?  It  is  easy  to  blame  human 
nature  for  respectable  sins  that  hinder  the  enterprise.  What 
common  inconsistencies  of  Christians  must  cease  if  the  King- 
dom really  comes? 

Sixth  Day:  Plain  lack  of  fellow-feeling,  lack  of  brotherly 
love,  is  a  constant  hindrance  to  the  extension  of  a  Kingdom 
like  that  of  Jesus.  Many  things  tend  to  raise  barriers  between 
men,  and  only  "invincible  good  will"  can  overpass  these 
obstacles.  In  a  hundred  ways  Jesus  dwelt  upon  the  necessity 
for  this  quality — "Love  your  enemies,"  "Forgive  seventy  times 
seven,"  "Love  one  another  even  as  I  have  loved  you,"  "Give 

24 


CAN  JESUS'  ORDER  BE  REALIZED?      [III-7] 

and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you,"  "Her  sins,  which  are  many, 
are  forgiven,  for  she  loved  much," — we  know  it  as  "the 
greatest  thing  in  the  world."  If  we  are  all  to  come  into 
one  fold  under  one  shepherd,  then  there  must  be  brotherhood. 

And  the  scribe  said  unto  him,  Of  a  truth.  Teacher, 
thou  hast  well  said  that  he  is  one ;  and  there  is  none 
other  but  he :  and  to  love  him  with  all  the  heart, 
and  with  all  the  understanding,  and  with  all  the 
strength,  and  to  love  his  neighbor  as  himself,  is  much 
more  than  all  whole  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices. 
And  when  Jesus  saw  that  he  answered  discreetly, 
he  said  unto  him.  Thou  art  not  far  from  the  kingdom 
of   God.— Mark   12  :  32-34. 

Where  are  we  falling  short  in  brotherly  love  in  our  modern 
social  order? 

Seventh  Day  :  Have  we  yet  touched  the  heart  of  the 
trouble  as  Jesus  saw  it?  He  kept  saying  over  and  over  to 
His  disciples,  "If  you  only  believe  it  can  be  done,  it  can  be 
done ;  if  you  will  only  act  as  if  you  thought  there  was  some- 
thing in  it,  things  will  really  happen." 

And  when  they  were  come  to  the  multitude,  there 
came  to  him  a  man,  kneeling  to  him,  and  saying. 
Lord,  have  mercy  on  my  son :  for  he  is  epileptic,  and 
suffereth  grievously;  for  oft-times  he  falleth  into  the 
fire,  and  oft-times  into  the  water.  And  I  brought  him 
to  thy  disciples,  and  they  could  not  cure  him.  And 
Jesus  answered  and  said,  O  faithless  and  perverse 
generation,  how  long  shall  I  be  with  you?  how  long 
shall  I  bear  with  you?  bring  him  hither  to  me.  And 
Jesus  rebuked  him ;  and  the  demon  went  out  of  him : 
and  the  boy  was  cured   from  that  hour. 

Then  came  the  disciples  to  Jesus  apart,  and  said, 
Why  could  not  we  cast  it  out?  And  he  saith  unto 
them.  Because  of  your  little  faith :  for  verily  I  say 
unto  you.  If  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Remove  hence 
25 


[III-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

to  yonder  place;   and   it   shall   remove;   and   nothing 
shall  be  impossible  unto  you. — Matt.  17:  14-20. 

This  is  still  the  great  question  today :  Do  we  really  believe 
that  God  rules,  and  that  He  wants  to  bring  in  the  Kingdom^ 
Do  we  really  believe  that  we  by  our  failures  are  blocking 
its  progress f  Have  we  faith  enough  in  God  to  act  on  His 
promises^ 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

In  spite  of  all  obstacles  the  Kingdom  has  advanced  in 
the  world.  This  is  seen  when  the  attention  is  fixed  not  upon 
the  distance  before  us,  but  upon  the  distance  already  traversed. 
It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  everything  was  better  in  the  "good 
old  days,"  but  close  examination  generally  exposes  the  error 
of  this  backward  look.  Though  the  world  is  still  tossed  by 
the  storms  of  passion  and  wrong,  we  have  better  days  than 
have  ever  existed  in  the  past. 

Consider  those  critical  issues  which  have  been  touched 
upon.  No  one  can  be  blind  to  the  wrongs  in  our  modern 
industrial  system;  they  seem  to  menace  the  very  stability  of 
our  civilization.  But  it  must  be  insisted  without  qualification 
that  it  offers  nothing  so  depressing  and  hopeless  as  wide- 
spread human  slavery. 

There  are,  in  civilized  countries,  many  who  are  desperately 
poor ;  but  their  condition  is  clearly  perceived  and  widely 
understood,  and  many  agencies  are  at  work  to  alleviate  human 
misery.  In  progressive  countries  men  have  learned  how  to 
cope  with  famine  and  pestilence. 

There  is  plenty  of  race  antagonism  left  in  the  world ;  but 
there  is  seen  in  the  operations  of  international  commerce, 
and  in  the  situation  within  such  countries  as  the  United 
States,  a  very  marked  advance  in  racial  adjustment  and 
sympathy:  to  dwell  only  upon  the  deficiencies  of  the  situa- 
tion   is    to    obscure    the    quality    and    extent    of    the    miracle 

26 


CAN  JESUS'  ORDER  BE  REALIZED?      [III-s] 

that  has  been  wrought  in  the  face  of  such  tremendous  dififi- 
cuhies. 

In  the  shadow  of  the  Great  War  it  seems  an  inopportune 
time  to  speak  of  hopefulness  in  international  relationships, 
but  the  Christian  era  dawned  upon  an  age  very  much  worse 
in  this  respect  than  even  the  storm-tossed  world  in  which 
we  now  live. 

Spiritual  unrest  is  ever  a  measure  of  active  moral  and 
intellectual  life.  Trying  and  disheartening  as  much  of  our 
present  negation  appears,  we  should  remember  that  every 
great  effort  of  the  mind  of  man  to  free  itself  from  past 
entanglements  is  accompanied  by  serious  pain.  For  the 
world,  as  for  the  individual,  doubt  is  often  the  door  into  a 
larger  and  fuller  life. 

Viewed  in  the  large,  a  modern  civilized  state  where  Chris- 
tian ideas  have  long  been  current  is  a  happier  and  better 
place  than  any  of  the  nations  of  two  thousand  years  ago. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  maintain  that  Christianity  is  responsible 
directly  for  all  the  progress  that  has  been  made.  Still, 
democracy,  widespread  education,  hospitals,  full  recognition 
of  women,  social  settlements,  the  vast  structure  of  scientific 
achievement,  the  home  of  the  tj^pe  we  know,  have  grown  up 
in  the  Christian  atmosphere  and  do  not  seem  to  grow  up 
elsewhere.  Good  impulses  have  been  seen  everywhere,  but 
they  seem  to  have  come  to  little  anywhere  but  under  the 
benign  influence  of  Christian  ideals.  Is  not  this  the  testimony 
of  history?  If  this  be  not  the  case,  why  are  Christian  nations 
the  most  wholesome  places  in  which  to  live?  It  is  true  that 
when  certain  emissaries  of  civilization  enter  a  non-Christian 
nation  they  may  actually  create  a  debasing  atmosphere ;  but 
with  the  Christian  missionaries  have  come  hospitals,  and 
schools,  and  colleges,  and  wholesome  recreation,  and  all  the 
rest  of  the  very  richest  things  that  civilization  has  to  offer 
to  less  progressive  nations.  The  very  fundamental  conception 
that  underlies  all  true  humanitarianism — the  supreme  value 
of  the  individual — exists  where  Christianity  has  made  its 
way,  and  there  alone,  for  it  is  a  distinguishing  mark  of  the 

27 


[Ill-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Gospel.  Have  we  ever  thought  what  the  world  would  be  like 
today  without  the  influence  of   Christianity? 

It  is  easier  to  demonstrate  the  immediate  power  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  life  of  the  individual.  Jesus  Christ  has  saved 
men  and  women  bj^  the  million  from  an  evil  to  a  good  life. 
Jerry  McAuley  and  Samuel  Hadley,  picked  up  from  the  very 
gutter,  witness  the  miracle,  but  no  more  than  does  the  brilliant 
Ion  Keith-Falconer,  taken  from  a  life  offering  every  induce- 
ment to  selfish  leisure  and  driven  out  into  the  active  service 
of  the  Church  in  a  dangerous  foreign  post. 

The  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  power  of  God.  are 
really  bringing  about  a  new  order  in  the  world. 

II 

He  who  inaugurated  the  Kingdom  spoke  plainly  of  the 
things  that  were  hindering  its  coming,  of  the  conditions  that 
must  be  fulfilled.  In  spite  of  Jesus'  solemn  warnings,  men 
attempt  to  advance  the  cause  by  force,  by  a  kind  of  bribery, 
by  the  mere  turning  of  the  wheels  of  rehgious  machinery. 
When  these  devices  fail,  we  are  tempted  to  cry,  "People  don't 
want  the  new  life." 

But  Jesus'  teachings  and  His  whole  life  were  set  against 
these  futile  devices.  He  warned  against  the  dangers  of 
wealth,  He  insisted  that  certain  religious  systems  blocked  the 
ncAv  order.  He  denied  utterly  the  power  of  brute  force :  faith 
in  God  and  persistent,  active,  eager  love  of  others,  service 
and  sacrifice — this  is  what  He  demanded.  And  when  men 
have  been  willing  to  go  His  way,  they  suddenly-  discover  that 
He  was  right  when  He  said,  "The  harvest  is  plenteous." 
Where  everything  else  fails,  true  brotherhood  wins  again  and 
again. 

Ill 

What  of  the  future?  Is  there  a  single  obstacle  among 
those  suggested  by  Jesus  that  could  not  be  overcome  if 
Christians  really  made  up  their  minds  to  do  so? 

The   early  disciples   of  Jesus   had   few  resources   at  hand. 


CAN  JESUS'  ORDER  BE  REALIZED?      [Ills] 

yet  they  started  out  with  buoyant  hope.  But  have  we  not 
all  the  tools  necessary,  provided  they  are  properly  used?  The 
Christian  Church  has  at  hand  resources  undreamed  of  by 
Paul  and  Peter  as  they  struggled  with  their  little  flocks  in 
those  early  days.  Democratic  institutions,  schools  and  col- 
leges, social  settlements,  a  Church  supplied  with  money  and 
equipment — these  tools  we  have  and  more  we  may  create  if 
we  will.  It  is  not  the  lack  of  this  kind  of  resource  that  is 
holding  back  the  fuller  Hfe  of  the  world. 

The  real  need  is  for  men  and  women  who  believe  that 
God  really  wants  this  thing  to  come  to  pass,  and  are  willing 
to  stake  their  lives  upon  this  beHef.  These  have  open  to 
them  the  limitless  resources  of  God's  own  power.  With 
nothing  but  their  faith,  the  early  Christians  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  the  Kingdom.  They  practiced  Jesus'  methods  in  a 
world  that  was  far  less  friendly  than  is  ours.  They  won, 
and  many  since  that  time  have  won  as  they  were  willing  to 
follow  His  lead.  Our  failures  come  from  plain  unwillingness 
to  leave  our  own  schemes  and  work  with  Him  in  His  way. 

This  enterprise  is  God's  enterprise.  We  cannot  conceive 
of  such  a  God  as  Jesus  Christ  made  known  to  us.  wishing 
anything  but  the  highest  and  best  for  mankind.  God  works 
in  the  world,  and  waits  for  the  opportunity  to  work  in  and 
through  each  one  of  us.  Our  attitude  may  delay  the  comple- 
tion of  the  great  undertaking,  but  it  goes  on  to  fulfil  God's 
will.  Our  privilege  is  to  join  the  work,  to  be  one  with  Him 
in  saving  the  world.  Through  the  open  doorway  of  prayer 
we  enter  into  the  fullest  cooperation  with  Him.  When  Jesus 
gathered  His  disciples  together  to  teach  them  to  pray,  the 
prayer  He  suggested  began :  "Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven, 
hallowed  be  thy  name,  thy  Kingdom  come." 

Do  we  need  any  further  resources?  Must  we  have  some 
stupendous  miracle?  What  if  all  those  in  the  world  who  call 
themselves  Christians  should  some  morning  decide,  trusting 
in  God,  to  practice  the  invincible  good  will  of  Jesus,  sacrific- 
ing all  their  worldly  interests  and  desires  to  that  end?  How 
long  would  the  Kingdom  delay  then? 

29 


lIII-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Deliberately  measuring  the  progress  of  nineteen  hundred 
years,  calmly  facing  the  whole  world  situation  today,  carefully 
considering  the  resources  at  our  command,  have  we  a  reason- 
able hope  that  the  Kingdom  enterprise  can  succeed  in  the 
world  ? 

Sl'ggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

Hozv  much  real  progress  has  been  made  in  the  world  since 
Jesus'  day? 

Compare  conditions  today  with  those  in  Jesus'  time — as  to 
poverty,  disease,  industrial  conditions,  race  and  national  an- 
tagonism, condition  of  women,  education,  home  life,  and 
democratic  ideals  and  institutions.  Compare  similarly  con- 
ditions today  with  those  of  fifty  years  ago. 

How  much  of  this  indicates  progress? 

How  much  of  world  progress  is  due  to  Christianity? 

How  far  have  Jesus'  ideals  gained  acceptance  in  the  life 
of  the  world? 

What  are  the  possibilities  for  the  future? 

Why  has  the  Kingdom  not  fully  come  ? 

Is  it  reasonable  to  expect  that  present  obstacles  can  be 
overcome? 

To  what  extent  does  past  progress  give  hope  of  ultimate 
success  ? 

Can  the  Kingdom  actually  be  achieved  in  the  world  on  the 
present  lines  of  efifort?     If  not,  how? 


30 


CHAPTER  IV 

EVERY  MAN  OF  EVERY  NATION  IN 
THE  KINGDOM 

Daily  Readings 

We  may  admit  that  Christianity  has  been  the  inspiration 
of  progress  in  certain  favored  nations  of  the  world.  But 
what  about  that  great  half  of  the  globe  which  has  been  but 
little  touched  by  Christian  influence?  Are  there  conditions 
or  races  which  the  Christian  religion  cannot  help?  Was 
Christianity  intended  for  any  but  certain  special  races  or 
peculiarly  gifted  individuals? 

First  Day:  The  Jews  had  this  very  idea  about  their  own 
religion.  Jehovah  was  their  God,  regarded  almost  as  their 
own  peculiar  property.  Even  among  Christians  in  the  early 
days,  the  idea  so  persisted  that  there  was  a  great  argument 
as  to  whether  or  not  it  was  necessary  for  a  man  to  become 
a  Jew  before  he  could  become  a  Christian.  When  the  lawyer 
asked  Jesus,  "Who  is  my  neighbor?"  His  reply  cut  across 
the  solid  conviction  of  His  race. 

But  he,  desiring  to  justify  himself,  said  unto  Jesus, 
And  who  is  my  neighbor?  Jesus  made  answer  and 
said,  A  certain  man  was  going  down  from  Jerusalem 
to  Jericho ;  and  he  fell  among  robbers,  who  both 
stripped  him  and  beat  him,  and  departed,  leaving  him 
half  dead.  And  by  chance  a  certain  priest  was  going 
down  that  way :  and  when  he  saw  him,  he  passed  by 
on  the  other  side.  And  in  like  manner  a  Levite  also, 
when  he  came  to  the  place,  and  saw  him,  passed 
by  on  the  other  side.  But  a  certain  Samaritan,  as  he 
journeyed,  came  where  he  was:  and  when  he  saw 
31 


[IV-2]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

him,  he  was  moved  with  compassion,  and  came  to 
him,  and  bound  up  his  wounds,  pouring  on  them  oil 
and  wine ;  and  he  set  him  on  his  own  beast  and 
brought  him  to  an  inn,  and  took  care  of  him.  And 
on  the  morrow  he  took  out  two  shillings,  and  gave 
them  to  the  host,  and  said.  Take  care  of  him ;  and 
whatsoever  thou  spendest  more,  I,  when  I  come  back 
again,  will  repay  thee.  Which  of  these  three,  thinkest 
thou,  proved  neighbor  unto  him  that  fell  among  the 
robbers?  And  he  said.  He  that  showed  mercy  on 
him.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Go,  and  do  thou 
likewise. — Luke  lo  :  29-37. 

To  a  Jev/  no  one  could  be  a  neighbor  but  a  Jew.  In  these 
rapid  strokes  Jesus  made  the  Samaritan  more  neighborly  than 
the  Jew.  Never  again  could  racial  bounds  limit  the  expression 
of  true  Christian  neigbborliness.  Every  line  of  this  story 
suggests  that  our  common  need  should  draw  us  all  together. 
Is  not  our  neighbor  the  man  in  need — whatever  his  race, 
whatever  his  country,  whatever  his  condition? 

//  a  poor  immigrant  laborer  fell  into  trouble  like  this  on 
the  road  from  New  York  to  Chicago,  who  would  be  found 
"going  by  on  the  other  side"?  Who  is  to  act  the  part  of  the 
Good  Samaritan  to  the  sick  man  in  China  living  in  a  great 
city  where  there  is  no  physician? 

Second  Day  :  Jesus  discovered  some  of  the  finest  responses 
of  faith  from  those  who  were  not  Jews.  He  seemed  to  have 
no  doubt  of  the  possibilities  of  the  foreign  centurion,  for  He 
quickly  responded  to  eager  belief  in  Him.  Indeed,  He  said 
that  He  had  not  found  such  great  faith  among  the  Jews. 

And  when  he  was  come  down  from  the  mountain, 
great  multitudes  followed  him.  And  behold,  there 
came  to  him  a  leper  and  worshipped  him,  saying. 
Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me  clean.  And 
he  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  touched  him,  saying, 
I  will;  be  thou  made  clean.  And  straightway  his 
leprosy  was  cleansed.  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him, 
32 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-3J 

See  thou  tell  no  man;  but  go,  show  thyself  to  the 
priest,  and  offer  the  gift  that  Moses  commanded,  for 
a  testimony  unto  them. 

And  when  he  was  entered  into  Capernaum,  there 
came  unto  him  a  centurion,  beseeching  him,  and  say- 
ing, Lord,  my  servant  lieth  in  the  house  sick  of  the 
palsy,  grievously  tormented.  And  he  saith  unto 
him,  I  will  come  and  heal  him.  And  the  centurion 
answered  him  and  said.  Lord,  I  am  not  worthy  that 
thou  shouldest  come  under  my  roof;  but  only  say 
the  word,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed. — Matt. 
8:1-8. 

Look  at  the  course  of  history  since  Jesus'  day.  Has  not 
the  experience  of  the  world  justified  Jesus'  confidence?  Men 
and  women  of  every  race  and  environment,  through  fellow- 
ship with  Jesus  Christ,  have  developed  characters  of  strength 
and  beauty. 

Consider  this  case  from  Madagascar.  "Here  is  a  carpenter 
in  the  service  of  the  government,  who  works  in  Ambohimare. 
three  full  hours  from  the  capital.  He  leaves  his  post  on 
Saturday  afternoon  and  travels  from  six  to  seven  hours  in 
order  to  preach  on  Sunda}^  in  some  villages  about  four  hours 
south  from  Antananarivo;  when  the  service  is  over  he  starts 
homeward  and  takes  up  his  work  Monday  morning." 

Third  Day  :  The  last  person  to  whom  the  ordinary  Jew 
would  have  thought  of  offering  his  rehgion  was  a  Samaritan. 
The  two  races  were  akin  and  they  hated  each  other  as  only 
blood  enemies  can.  The  Jews  journeying  from  Judea  to 
Galilee  usually  made  a  great  detour  to  avoid  crossing  Samaria. 

And  he  must  needs  pass  through  Samaria.  So  he 
Cometh  to  a  city  of  Samaria  called  Sychar,  near  to  the 
parcel  of  ground  that  Jacob  gave  to  his  son  Joseph : 
and  Jacob's  well  was  there.  Jesus  therefore,  being 
wearied  with  his  journey,  sat  thus  by  the  well.  It 
was  about  the  sixth  hour.  There  cometh  a  woman  of 
Samaria  to  draw  water :  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Give 
33 


[IV-4]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

me  to  drink.  For  his  disciples  were  gone  away  into 
the  city  to  buy  food.  The  Samaritan  woman  there- 
fore saith  unto  him,  How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew, 
asketh  drink  of  me,  who  am  a  Samaritan  woman?  .  .  . 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her,  If  thou  knewest 
the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee, 
Give  me  to  drink;  thou  wouldest  have  asked  of  him, 
and  he  would  have  given  thee  living  water. — John 
4:4-10. 

Our  fathers  worshipped  in  this  mountain ;  and 
ye  say,  that  in  Jerusalem  is  the  place  where  men  ought 
to  worship.  Jesus  said  unto  her.  Woman,  believe  me, 
the  hour  cometh,  when  neither  in  this  mountain,  nor 
in  Jerusalem,  shall  ye  worship  the  Father.  Ye  wor- 
ship that  which  ye  know  not :  we  worship  that  which 
we  know ;  for  salvation  is  from  the  Jews.  But  the 
hour  Cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  true  worshippers 
shall  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  truth :  for  such 
doth  the  Father  seek  to  be  his  worshippers.  God  is 
a  Spirit:  and  they  that  worship  him  must  worship 
in  spirit  and  truth. — John  4 :  20-24. 

Why  did  Jesus  take  the  tro:ible  to  teach  this  zi'owan  cf  a 
despised  alien  race? 

To  whom  is  it  not  worth  while  to  take  the  message  of 
Christianity? 

Fourth  Day: 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  he  was  sitting  at  meat  in 
his  house,  and  many  publicans  and  sinners  sat  down 
with  Jesus  and  his  disciples  :  for  there  were  many,  and 
they  followed  him.  And  the  scribes  of  the  Pharisees, 
when  they  saw  that  he  was  eating  with  the  sinners 
and  publicans,  said  unto  his  disciples.  How  is  it  that 
he  eateth  and  drinketh  with  publicans  and  sinners? 
And  when  Jesus  heard  it,  he  saith  unto  them,  They 
that  are  whole  have  no  need  of  a  physician,  but  they 
that  are  sick :  I  came  not  to  call  the  righteous, 
but  sinners. — Mark  2 :  15-17. 
34 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-5] 

The  religion  of  Jesus  was  not  intended  to  be  merely  a 
comfort  for  pious  people.  The  "respectable"  classes  of  His 
day  earned  little  commendation  from  Him.  This  word  of 
His  is  the  great  charter  of  Redemption;  He  promised  salva- 
tion to  those  who  needed  it.  There  are  no  "outcasts"  in  His 
sight. 

Do  we  judge  rightly  as  to  who  need  saving  and  who  do 
not?     What  was  Jesus'  standard  of  judgment? 

Fifth  Day  :  In  sharp  contrast  to  the  publicans  and  sinners 
we  find  Nicodemus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews.  Upon  the  Pharisees 
as  a  class  Jesus  poured  out  the  most  comprehensive  condemna- 
tions in  our  Gospel  records.  He  meets  the  inquiring  individual 
on  his  own  level. 

Now  there  was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees,  named 
Nicodemus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews :  the  same  came  unto 
him  by  night,  and  said  to  him,  Rabbi,  we  know  that 
thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God ;  for  no  one  can 
do  these  signs  that  thou  doest,  except  God  be  with 
him.  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  thee,  Except  one  be  born  anew,  he  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God.  Nicodemus  saith  unto  him, 
How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is  old?  can  he 
enter  a  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb,  and  be 
born  ?  Jesus  answered.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee. 
Except  one  be  born  of  water  and  the  Spirit,  he  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  That  which  is  born 
of  the  flesh  is  flesh;  and  that  which  is  born  of  the 
Spirit  is  spirit.  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee. 
Ye  must  be  born  anew.  The  wind  bloweth  where  it 
will,  and  thou  hearest  the  voice  thereof,  but  knowest 
not  whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth :  so  is 
every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.  Nicodemus 
answered  and  said  unto  him.  How  can  these  things 
be?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  the 
teacher  of  Israel,  and  understandest  not  these  things? 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  We  speak  that  which 
we  know,  and  bear  witness  of  that  which  we  have 
35 


[IV-6]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

seen ;  and  ye  receive  not  our  witness.  If  I  told  you 
earthly  things  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  believe 
it  if  I  tell  you  heavenly  things?  And  no  one  hath 
ascended  into  heaven,  but  he  that  descended  out  of 
heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man,  who  is  in  heaven. 
—John  3:  1-13. 

Notice  a  peculiar  element  in  Jesus'  universality.  Not  only 
are  all  men  received  into  His  Kingdom,  but  at  least  one 
great  experience  is  necessary  for  all — what  is  here  called 
"rebirth."  Even  one  of  the  religious  leaders  of  Israel  must 
be  born  again;  moral  and  spiritual  transformation  must  come 
to  all.    There  must  be  a  new  principle  of  life  in  every  man. 

Take  as  examples  a  dozen  different  types  of  men  and 
women.  Would  a  new  life  be  possible  for  all?  What  zvoitld 
the  "rebirth"  mean  for  each?  What  would  be  the  element 
common  to  all? 

Sixth  Day  :  Jesus'  seeminglj-  extravagant  language  con- 
cerning the  value  of  each  individual  is  no  more  startling 
than  the  lengths  to  which  He  would  actually  go  to  win  a  man. 

And  he  spake  unto  them  this  parable,  saying,  What 
man  of  you,  having  a  hundred  sheep,  and  having  lost 
one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in 
the  wilderness,  and  go  after  that  which  is  lost,  until 
he  find  it?  And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it 
on  his  shoulders,  rejoicing.  And  when  he  cometh 
home,  he  calleth  together  his  friends  and  his  neigh- 
bors, saying  unto  them,  Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have 
found  my  sheep  which  was  lost.  I  say  unto  you, 
that  even  so  there  shall  be  joy  in  heaven  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than  over  ninety  and 
nine  righteous  persons,  who  need  no  repentance. 

Or  what  woman  having  ten  pieces  of  silver,  if  she 
lose  one  piece,  doth  not  light  a  lamp,  and  sweep  the 
house,  and  seek  diligently  until  she  find  it  ?  And  when 
she  hath  found  it,  she  calleth  together  her  friends 
and  neighbors,  saying.  Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have 
found  the  piece  which  I  had  lost.  Even  so,  I  say  unto 
36 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-7] 

you,  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  one   sinner  that   repenteth. — Luke   15:3-10. 

Can  it  be  conceived  that  Jesus  would  have  consented  tacitly 
to  set  aside  certain  groups  or  races  of  individuals^ 

What  men  and  women  are  we  allowing  to  he  placed  "out- 
side the  pale"f 

Seventh  Day: 

Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  world:  now  shall 
the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out.  And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto 
myself. — John  12 :  31,  2>^. 

"For  Jesus  there  were  no  race  prejudices,  no  party  lines, 
no  sectarian  limits,  no  favored  nation.  There  was  nothing 
between  His  love  and  the  world ;  His  heart  beat  for  the  world 
— and,  on  Calvary,  broke  for  the  world.  His  knowledge  of 
Himself  in  world  relations  was  the  essence  of  simplicity.  *I 
am  the  light  of  the  world.'  'I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the 
earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto  Myself.'  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
in  His  incarnate  ministry,  was  the  divine  man  without  a 
country.  'Foxes  have  holes,'  He  said,  'and  birds  of  the  air 
have  nests,  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  His 
head.'  In  His  knowledge  of  Himself  as  Son  of  God  and  Son 
of  man,  He  rose  above  kindred  and  country,  to  embrace  the 
world"  (Charles  Cuthbert  Hall). 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

Though  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  called  a  kingdom,  it  is 
based  upon  the  single  principle  of  the  supreme  value  of  the 
individual  of  every  land  and  race.  Without  this  reverence 
for  personality  there  can  be  no  democracy.  We  owe  this 
conception  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  No  man  or  woman  or  child 
anywhere  is  beyond  the  possible  reach  of  His  Kingdom. 
So  necessary  to  any  real  human  progress  was  the  understand- 

37 


(IV-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

ing  of  this  that  He  dwelt  upon  it  again  and  again.  The 
parables  of  the  Lost  Sheep  and  the  Lost  Coin  are  vivid 
expressions  in  story  form  of  the  truth  that  He  put  in  such 
plain  words  as,  "Are  not  two  sparrows  sold  for  a  farthing? 
Yet  not  one  of  them  will  fall  to  the  ground  unless  your 
Father  wills  it.  The  very  hairs  on  your  head  are  num- 
bered." 

The  conception  of  God  as  Father  of  all  men  certainly  means 
that  He  is  Father  of  every  man.  The  religion  that  does  not 
take  in  every  individual  of  every  condition  in  every  race  has 
for  its  god  only  a  provincial  deity.  The  soHdarity  of  man- 
kind is  no  new  idea,  but  it  is  coming  home  to  us  in  new 
force  as  the  w^orld  shrinks  in  size  in  our  modern  life.  We 
have  all  heard  of  the  poor  Irish  widow,  mentioned  by  Carlyle, 
who  had  to  "prove  her  sisterhood  by  dying  of  typhus  fever 
and  infecting  seventeen  persons."  So  if  we  do  not  recognize 
the  solidarity  of  mankind  on  the  higher  levels  it  will  force 
itself  upon  us  elsewhere. 

The  Kingdom  message  of  universal  brotherhood  is  for  all 
men  everywhere. 

II 

In  those  nations  where  the  influence  of  Christianity  has 
been  felt  distinctly  and  continuously,  this  great  ideal  has 
been  held  up  before  the  eyes  of  the  people.  Democracy 
springs  from  it,  institutions  of  relief  spring  from  it;  how- 
ever bad  the  temporary  conditions  of  any  man,  there  is  some 
hope  before  him.  And  gradually  the  thoughtful  people  every- 
where in  such  nations  are  beginning  to  see  that  their  com- 
munity's progress  is  ever  blocked  so  long  as  any  group  of 
individuals  are  left  out  of  a  share  in  the  privileges  of  life. 
The  beggar  at  the  gate  of  the  King's  palace  eternally  mars 
the  beauty  of  that  palace. 

So  long  as  there  are  any  individuals  outside  the  privileges 
of  the  Kingdom,  no  true  citizen  can  ever  feel  that  his  own 
Christian  life  is  complete  or  his  own  Christian  work  done. 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-s] 


III 

In  those  parts  of  the  world  where  Christian  influences  have 
not  been  felt  in  life,  this  principle  of  the  supreme  value  of 
the  individual  has  never  been  recognized.  If  we  separate  the 
communities  of  mankind  into  two  great  groups  according  to 
their  general  conception  of  the  integrity  and  rights  of  each 
human  soul,  those  that  have  felt  the  influence  of  Christianity 
will  be  all  on  one  side  and  those  that  are  living  in  the  power 
of  other  faiths  will  be  all  on  the  other. 

The  non-Christian  religions  do  not  foster  a  high  ideal  of 
personality,  and  in  nearly  every  case  they  minimize  individu- 
ality. In  their  results  they  stand  condemned.  The  caste 
system  of  India  is  a  religious  system.  In  China  the  individual 
is  subordinate  always  to  the  family.  "To  think  and  act  as 
an  independent  individual  is  contrary  to  the  current  of 
Chinese  social  life."  In  Japan  there  is  much  talk  about  the 
theory  of  morality,  but  "there  is  very  little  sense  of  personal 
responsibility."  Count  Okuma,  the  great  Japanese  statesman 
and  thinker,  really  analyzes  the  attitude  through  and  through : 
"The  fatal  defect  of  the  teachings  of  the  great  sages  of  Japan 
and  China  is  that  while  they  deal  with  virtue  and  morals, 
they  do  not  dwell  on  the  spiritual  nature  of  man."  The  faith 
of  Islam  at  its  very  heart  debases  the  individual  in  the  very 
sight  of  God  Himself  from  a  responsible  person  to  a  mere 
counter.  The  fatalism  of  this  conception  is  not  unfairly 
represented  in  FitzGerald's  words : 

"But  helpless  Pieces  of  the  Game  He  plays 
Upon  this  Chequer-board  of   Nights  and  Days; 
Hither  and  thither  moves,  and  checks,  and  slays, 
And  one  by  one  back  in  the  Closet  lays." 

And  clearly  these  religions  show  one  stupendous  deficiency. 
Whatever  slight  value  may  possibly  be  here  and  there  granted 
the  individual,  it  is  recognized  only  in  those  who  belong  to 
that  particular  religion.    Non-Christian  religions  never  include 

39 


[IV-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

humanity  in  the  privilege  of  their  benefits.     Individual  men, 
as  men,  are  nothing  in  their  sight. 

Is  it  possible  to  maintain  that  any  race  of  man  anywhere 
can  advance  to  a  position  of  peace  and  happiness  while  human 
personality  as  such  is  degraded  in  this  way?  The  experience 
of  all  history  is  against  such  an  idea. 

IV 

Over  against  all  this  stands  the  ideal  of  Christianity.  Paul 
spoke  of  the  unity  of  humanity  when  he  said,  "All  nations 
He  has  created  from  a  common  origin."  In  its  recognition 
of  every  man  as  a  son  of  God,  in  its  aim  to  bring  all  men 
of  every  race  within  its  borders,  the  Kingdom  stands  in  strik- 
ing and  eternal  contrast  to  the  non-Christian  rehgions  of  the 
world. 

Professor  W.  N.  Clarke  sums  up  the  three  great  reasons 
why  Christianity  is  entitled  to  carry  its  message  to  every 
individual  everywhere. 

"Christianity  is  entitled  to  be  a  missionary  religion  and  to 
displace  all  other  religions  because  of  its  God  ...  In  its 
God,  Christianity  has  the  substance  of  the  noblest  ethics  and 
the  sure  hope  of  attainment  of  the  highest  character;  for  its 
God  is  the  real  and  living  God,  whose  character  is  a  reality, 
and  whose  love  for  goodness  is  the  most  powerful  ethical 
fact  in  existence.  .  .  . 

"Christianity  is  .  .  .  proposed  as  adapted  to  all  men  because 
it  is  a  religion  of  brotherhood,  making  of  mankind  one  family. 
It  has  a  history  that  is  honorable  in  this  respect,  for  it  does 
overleap  barriers,  ignore  distinctions,  recognize  differences,  and 
establish  a  recognized  unity  of  man.  Though  it  is  far  from 
having  attained  to  its  own  ideal,  its  ideal  is  human  fraternity 
as  wide  as  the  human  race." 

What  does  this  recognition  of  the  value  of  the  individual 
actually  mean?  It  means  that  every  man  of  every  race  is  a 
responsible  individual,  a  spiritual  being,  partaking  of  the 
very  nature  of  God — "made  in  the  image  of  God,"  designed 
for  an  unending  life  of  satisfying  service  in  His  Kingdom. 

40 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-s] 


Can  the  Kingdom  actually  be  established  universally^  Can 
the  rule  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man  be  actually  brought  about, 
whatever  be  the  conditions  in  his  heart  and  in  the  life  around 
iiim? 

Jesus  Christ  was  a  member  of  the  Jewish  race  and  He 
lived  and  preached  and  died  in  Palestine.  His  first  disciples 
came  from  a  race  that  had  been  a  marvel  of  exclusiveness  for 
thousands  of  years  before  He  was  born,  and  it  maintains  its 
solidarity  today,  nineteen  centuries  after  it  ceased  to  exist  as 
a  nation. 

Yet  before  those  w^ho  knew  Jesus  on  earth  were  dead,  the 
early  Christian  Church  was  established  far  beyond  the  borders 
of  Palestine.  Titus,  Cornelius,  an  Ethiopian  eunuch — these 
were  not  Jews ;  and  one  of  the  writers  of  our  New  Testa- 
ment, Luke,  was  a  Greek.  Christian  missions  spread  over  the 
whole  of  the  ancient  world  about  the  Mediterranean  and  out 
to  Gaul  and  across  the  narrow  channel  to  Britain,  and  among 
the  earliest  disciples  are  found  scholars  and  artisans,  old  men 
and  children,  slaves  and  their  own  masters.  Back  somewhere 
in  history  each  one  of  us  owes  his  present  knowledge  of 
Christianity  to  some  missionary. 

The  facts  of  our  own  day  are  even  more  remarkable.  There 
are  Christians  in  every  continent.  Low-caste  and  high-caste 
in  India,  scholar  and  coolie  in  China;  bushman  in  Africa, 
men  and  women  from  the  most  cultured  classes  of  Japan,  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men  in  Europe  and  America — the 
nations  have  already  come  from  the  East  and  the  West  to 
sit  down  in  the  Kingdom.  Take  note  of  this  list  of  out- 
standing men  and  women  in  Asiatic  and  African  Churches  : 

Honda,  the  first  Japanese  Methodist  Bishop ;  Joseph  Hardy 
Neesima,  the  founder  of  the  Doshisha;  Pastor  Hsi  of  China; 
Chundra  Lela,  the  devoted  evangelist  in  India;  Tiyo  Soga, 
of  South  Africa.  Of  the  present  generation  we  must  place 
high  on  the  roll  of  great  Christian  leaders  such  persons  as 
Ding  Li  Mei,  ''the  Apostle  Paul  of  China";  Elijah  Makiwane, 

41 


[IV-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

the  able  and  cultured  Kaffir  of  Africa;  Azariah,  the  first 
native  Anglican  Bishop  in  India;  the* patriarchal  Chatterjee, 
Moderator  of  the  First  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  of 
India;  Noboru  Watanabe,  Japanese  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Korea;  Dr.  Tasuku  Harada,  President  of 
the  Doshisha ;  Uemura,  the  great  preacher  editor  and 
theologian  of  Tokyo ;  Dr.  Li  Bi  Cu,  physician  in  China ;  C.  T. 
Wang,  statesman  and  Christian  worker  in  China;  Pastor  Kil, 
Korean  evangelist;  Yun  Chi  Ho,  the  Korean  patriot  and 
Christian  educator;  Dr.  Mary  Stone  and  Dr.  Ida  Kahn, 
Chinese  women  physicians ;  Miss  Ume  Tsuda,  Japanese  woman 
educator  and  temperance  leader ;  Miss  Michi  Kawai,  national 
secretary  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  in 
Japan ;  and  Pandita  Ramabai,  a  leader  of  the  women  of  India. 

VI 

In  briefest  outline,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  suggest 
that,  over  the  whole  world,  the  one  hope  for  men  who  would 
maintain  their  individual  integrity,  dignity,  and  power,  is  the 
Kingdom  of  God.  Jesus'  ideal  of  the  rule  of  God  in  the 
human  heart  has  actually  been  realized  in  men  and  women 
of  every  race  and  condition. 

The  Kingdom  is,  however,  not  a  theory  but  a  challenge. 
Its  privileges  cannot  be  selfishly  enjoyed.  Brotherhood 
evaporates  in  a  selfish  community.  Once  to  have  grasped 
the  Christian  conception  of  the  individual  is  to  have  joined 
a  crusade  that  will  not  be  complete  till  every  human  being 
on  earth  has  been  brought  within  the  Kingdom. 

Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

How  far  can  Christianity  become  the  universal  religion  f 

Do  differences  in  national  characteristics  and  needs  make 
national   religions   desirable  ? 

Are  there  elements  in  Christianity  that  hinder  its  becoming 
universal  ? 

Compare  the  suitability  of  Christianity  to  meet  the  need  of 
42 


EVERY  MAN  IN  THE  KINGDOM  [IV-s] 

England  and  India,  America  and  China,  the  Orient  and  the 
Occident. 

Is  there  any  race  or  condition  which  the  Christian  religion 
has  been  unable  to  reach?  To  what  extent  has  Christianity 
been  able  to  develop  leadership  in  every  race? 

Why  does  Christianity  tend  to  be  a  universal  religion  ? 

How  does  one's  obligation  to  his  own  race  or  nation  compare 
with  his  obligation  to  other  races  or  nations? 

In  what  ways  did  Jesus  break  with  Jewish  exclusiveness  in 
His  dealings  with  individuals? 

In  its  history  to  what  extent  has  Christianity  followed  the 
ideals  of  its  Founder  in  its  inter-racial  and  international 
character  ? 

How  far  is  America's  opportunity  to  know  Christianity 
dependent  .upon  the  missionary  character  of  that  religion? 

If  two  appeals  for  help  come  to  a  person — one  from  people 
of  his  own,  the  other  from  people  of  an  alien  nation — to 
which  ought  he  to  respond?  Which  would  be  following 
Jesus'  ideal? 

What   is   the    Christian's   obligation    today    to    individuals    of 
other  lands  and  races? 


43 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  TERRITORIAL  LIMITS  OF  THE 
KINGDOM 

Daily  Readings 

The  attempt  has  been  made  to  show  that  Christianity  has  a 
message  for  every  individual,  and  that  individuals  of  every 
race  and  condition  have  accepted  the  call  to  citizenship  in  the 
Kingdom  and  gladly  built  their  lives  into  the  Kingdom 
enterprise.  We  are  faced  at  once  with  the  further  question : 
Though  individuals  everywhere  may  accept  Christianity,  is 
it  wise  and  is  it  possible  to  press  the  message  of  the  Gospel 
in  every  nation  of  the  world? 

First  Day  :  The  Kingdom  was  not  expected  by  Jesus  to 
advance  as  an  organized  army  advances,  securing  all  the 
ground  in  every  direction  before  it  moves  on. 

Another  parable  set  he  before  them,  saying.  The 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  likened  unto  a  man  that  sowed 
good  seed  in  his  field :  but  while  men  slept,  his  enemy 
came  and  sowed  tares  also  among  the  wheat,  and  went 
away.  But  when  the  blade  sprang  up  and  brought 
forth  fruit,  then  appeared  the  tares  also.  And  the 
servants  of  the  householder  came  and  said  unto  him, 
Sir,  didst  thou  not  sow  good  seed  in  thy  field  ?  whence 
then  hath  it  tares?  And  he  said  unto  them,  An  enemy 
hath  done  this.  And  the  servants  say  unto  him.  Wilt 
thou  then  that  we  go  and  gather  them  up?  But  he 
saith,  Nay;  lest  haply  while  ye  gather  up  the  tares, 
ye  root  up  the  wheat  with  them.  Let  both  grow 
together  until  the  harvest:  and  in  the  time  of  the 
harvest  I  will  say  to  the  reapers,  Gather  up  first  the 
44 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  fV-2] 

tares,  and  bind  them  in  bundles  to  burn  them ;   but 
gather  the  wheat  into  my  barn. — Matt.  13 :  24-30. 

Good  and  evil  grow  up  side  by  side  in  the  world.  This  is 
to  be  expected.  The  Kingdom  will,  according  to  Jesus, 
permeate  everywhere,  even  among  those  who  are  its  enemies. 
Read  Matt.  13  :  36-43- 

What  is  the  mea)iing  of  this  parable  for  the  individual 
Christian  who  is  anxious  to  see  his  religion  advance  in  the 
world? 

Second  Day  :  The  silent,  steady,  inevitable  advance  of  the 
Kingdom  was  pictured  by  Jesus  in  several  striking  parables. 

Another  parable  set  he  before  them,  saying,  The 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  which  a  man  took,  and  sowed  in  his  field :  which 
indeed  is  less  than  all  seeds ;  but  when  it  is  grown, 
it  is  greater  than  the  herbs,  and  becometh  a  tree,  so 
that  the  birds  of  the  heaven  come  and  lodge  in  the 
branches  thereof. 

Another  parable  spake  he  unto  them;  The  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  like  unto  leaven,  which  a  woman 
took,  and  hid  in  three  measures  of  meal,  till  it  was  all 
leavened. — Matt.   13:31-33. 

"Religion  spreads  by  contagion.  Our  Lord  bases  His 
expectation  of  the  extension  of  His  Spirit  throughout  the 
world  not  upon  any  grand  and  powerful  institution  but  upon 
the  secret,  unnoticed  influence  of  man  upon  man"   (Dods). 

What  is  the  limit  of  our  iniluencef  When  do  our  own  acts 
have  an  effect  on  the  other  side  of  the  world?  Is  this  true  of 
bad  acts  as  ivcll  as  good? 

Third  Day:  When  Paul  of  Tarsus  was  a  Jewish  rabbi,  he 
had  little  eagerness  to  carr}-^  the  message  of  his  religion 
beyond  the  bounds  of  his  own  race.  When  he  became  a  Chris- 
tian his  transformation  in  this  particular  regard  was  so  com- 

45 


[V-4l  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

plete  that  he  gave  his  whole  life  to  the  task  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  message  outside  the  Jewish  nation. 

Now  there  were  at  Antioch,  in  the  church  that  was 
there,  prophets  and  teachers,  Barnabas,  and  Symeon 
that  was  called  Niger,  and  Lucius  and  Cyrene,  and 
Manaen  the  foster-brother  of  Herod  the  tetrarch,  and 
Saul.  And  as  they  ministered  to  the  Lord,  and  fasted, 
the  Holy  Spirit  said.  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul 
for  the  work  whereunto  I  have  called  them.  Then, 
when  they  had  fasted  and  prayed  and  laid  their  hands 
on  them,  they  sent  them  away. 

So  they,  being  sent  forth  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  went 
down  to  Seleucia;  and  from  thence  they  sailed  to 
Cyprus. — Acts   13  :  1-4. 

What  impulse  sent  Paul  out  into  this  wider  mission?  What 
makes  a  man  a  missionary ?  What  evidence  is  there  of  similar 
direction  today  f 

Fourth  Day  : 

And  the  next  sabbath  almost  the  whole  city  was 
gathered  together  to  hear  the  word  of  God.  But 
when  the  Jews  saw  the  multitudes,  they  were  filled 
with  jealousy,  and  contradicted  the  things  which  were 
spoken  by  Paul,  and  blasphemed.  And  Paul  and 
Barnabas  spake  out  boldly,  and  said,  It  was  necessary 
that  the  word  of  God  should  first  be  spoken  to  you. 
Seeing  ye  thrust  it  from  you,  and  judge  yourselves 
unworthy  of  eternal  life,  lo,  we  turn  to  the  Gentiles. 
For  so  hath  the  Lord  commanded  us,  saying, 

I  have  set  thee  for  a  light  of  the  Gentiles, 

That  thou  shouldst  be  for  salvation  unto  the  utter- 
most part  of  the  earth. 

And  as  the  Gentiles  heard  this,  they  were  glad,  and 
glorified  the  word  of  God:  and  as  many  as  were 
ordained  to  eternal  life  believed.  And  the  word  of 
the  Lord  was  spread  abroad  throughout  all  the 
region. — Acts  13  :  44-49. 

46 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-5] 

Notice  the  leaven  of  the  Kingdom  already  at  work  in  the 
world. 

"Have  you  learned  to  study  with  interest  the  growing  King- 
dom of  God  in  the  world;  the  irresistible  trend  of  civilization  ; 
the  development  of  social  forces  that  are  evidently  beyond 
the  control  of  men  or  any  combination  of  men,  especially  the 
transformation  of  heathen  civilization?"     (Bosworth.) 

Is  it  our  duty  to  study  the  growth  of  the  Kingdom  of  God? 
On  what  other  grounds  can  we  for  ourselves  judge  of  its  uni- 
versal claims  f 

Fifth  Day: 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  Iconium  that  they  entered 
together  into  the  synagogue  of  the  Jews,  and  so 
spake  that  a  great  multitude  both  of  Jews  and  of 
Greeks  believed. — Acts  14 :  i. 

Thus  Paul  went  out  from  among  them.  But  certain 
men  clave  unto  him,  and  believed :  among  whom  also 
was  Dionysius  the  Areopagite,  and  a  woman  named 
Damaris,  and  others  with  them. — Acts  17 :  S3,  34- 

And  he  reasoned  in  the  synagogue  every  sabbath, 
and  persuaded  Jews  and  Greeks. — Acts  18 :  4. 

But  when  some  were  hardened  and  disobedient, 
speaking  evil  of  the  Way  before  the  multitude,  he 
departed  from  them,  and  separated  the  disciples, 
reasoning  daily  in  the  school  of  Tyrannus.  And  this 
continued  for  the  space  of  two  years ;  so  that  all 
they  that  dwelt  in  Asia  heard  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
both  Jews  and  Greeks. 

Many  also  of  them  that  had  believed  came,  confess- 
ing, and  declaring  their  deeds.  And  not  a  few  of  them 
that  practised  magical  arts  brought  their  books  to- 
gether and  burned  them  in  the  sight  of  all;  and  they 
counted  the  price  of  them,  and  found  it  fifty  thousand 
pieces  of  silver.  So  mightily  grew  the  word  of  the 
Lord  and  prevailed. 

For  a  certain  man  named  Demetrius,  a  silversmith, 
who  made  silver  shrines  of  Diana,  brought  no  little 
47 


IV-6]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

business  unto  the  craftsmen;  whom  he  gathered  to- 
gether, with  the  workmen  of  like  occupation,  and 
said.  Sirs,  ye  know  that  by  this  business  we  have  our 
wealth.  And  ye  see  and  hear,  that  not  alone  at 
Ephesus,  but  almost  throughout  all  Asia,  this  Paul 
hath  persuaded  and  turned  away  much  people,  saying 
that  they  are  no  gods,  that  are  made  with  hands :  and 
not  only  is  there  danger  that  this  our  trade  come  into 
disrepute ;  but  also  that  the  temple  of  the  great 
goddess  Diana  be  made  of  no  account,  and  that  she 
should  even  be  deposed  from  her  magnificence  whom 
all  Asia  and  the  world  worshippeth. — Acts  19:9,  10, 
18-20,  24-27. 

And  he  abode  two  whole  years  in  his  own  hired 
dwelling,  and  received  all  that  went  in  unto  him, 
preaching  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  teaching  the 
things  concerning  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  all 
boldness,  none  forbidding  him. — Acts  28:30,  31. 

Sixth  Day  :  The  Great  Commission  unquestionably  ex- 
presses completely  the  whole  spirit  of  Jesus'  life  and  thought. 
The  early  disciples  acted  upon  it  with  all  their  energies,  and 
ever  since  men  and  women  who  have  most  fully  understood 
the  spirit  of  Jesus  have  made  it  the  guiding  principle  of 
their  lives. 

But  the  eleven  disciples  went  into  Galilee,  unto  the 
mountain  where  Jesus  had  appointed  them.  And 
when  they  saw  him,  they  worshipped  him ;  but  some 
doubted.  And  Jesus  came  to  them  and  spake  unto 
them,  saying,  All  authority  hath  been  given  unto  me 
in  heaven  and  on  earth.  Go  ye  therefore,  and  make 
disciples  of  all  the  nations,  baptizing  them  into  the 
name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Spirit :  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatso- 
ever I  commanded  you :  and  lo,  I  am  with  you  always, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. — Matt.  28:16-20. 

How  far  can  the  spirit  of  this  commission  be  made  a  deter- 
mining factor  in  deciding  life  ivork? 

48 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-7] 

Seventh  Day  :  In  the  record  of  the  vision  of  an  early 
disciple  we  see  the  faith  of  one  who  lived  in  those  troubled 
and  uncertain  times.  In  spite  of  the  comparatively  small 
progress  of  the  Kingdom,  in  spite  of  the  powers  arrayed 
against  it,  he  could  say: 

After  these  things  I  saw,  and  behold,  a  great  multi- 
tude, which  no  man  could  number,  out  of  every 
nation  and  of  all  tribes  and  peoples  and  tongues, 
standing  before  the  throne  and  before  the  Lamb, 
arrayed  in  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands ; 
and  they  cry  with  a  great  voice,  saying. 

Salvation  unto  our  God  who  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  unto  the  Lamb. — Rev.  7 :  9,  10. 

The  kingdom  of  the  world  is  become  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ:  and  he  shall 
reign  for  ever  and  ever. — Rev.  11  :  15. 

Is  there  more  or  less  reason  for  me  to  believe  tJiat  this 
great  task  may  be  completed f  IV hat  is  iny  reasonable  share 
in  its  completion  F 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

It  must  be  admitted  that  those  nations  that  are  called 
Christian  nations  are  far  from  being  truly  and  perfectly 
Christian.  Great  evils  exist  within  their  borders.  These  are 
but  tares  in  the  great  wheat  field.  We  have  tried  to  indicate 
here  and  there  how  much  Western  civilization  really  owes 
to  the  influence  of  Christian  ideals,  often  unrecognized,  often 
totally  despised.  New  problems  arise  among  us.  New  com- 
binations in  society  raise  difficulties  that  could  not  have  arisen 
m  other  times.  But  still  we  make  progress.  Our  spiritual 
unrest  is  as  great  a  sign  as  our  achievements,  for  it  means 
that  the  standards  are  being  raised.  Men  of  the  world  taunt 
Christians  with  inconsistency,  but  such  taunts  imply  with 
tremendous   force  that  the  Kingdom  standards  are  actually 

49 


[V-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

above  other  standards:  more  is  expected  of  Christians  than 
of  other  men. 

Our  social  organization  is  bad  enough ;  but  the  movement 
toward  democracy,  the  spread  of  education,  the  development 
of  the  Christian  home,  the  new  interest  in  all  organizations 
for  the  relief  of  misery — these  are  distinct  gains.  In  a  hun- 
dred ways  our  civilization  owes  its  debt  to  Christianity.  The 
Kingdom  advances  among  us. 

II 

The  non-Christian  lands  lie  out  before  us  an  eloquent  wit- 
ness as  to  what  the  whole  world  might  have  been  without 
Christ.  The  ethnic  faiths  have  no  message  of  hope  for  the 
individual  or  for  society.  Let  us  scan  some  of  the  social 
results  in  non-Christian  lands. 

The  non-Christian  world  is  pitifully,  desperately  poor.  It 
is  estimated  that  in  India  more  people  than  live  in  the  United 
States  never  have  more  than  one  good  meal  a  day.  Lord 
Cromer  estimates  the  average  yearly  income  in  India  at  about 
$9.00  per  capita.  Making  all  allowances  for  differences  in 
money  values,  this  is  poverty,  extreme  and  relentless.  The 
coolie  classes  in  China  are  about  in  the  same  situation.  Life 
rolls  out  just  one  painful  struggle  to  keep  alive.  Nothing 
short  of  the  marvelous  stamina  and  courage  of  that  race 
could  bear  the  awful  strain.  In  a  single  province  one  famine, 
with  the  disease  that  followed  as  a  consequence,  carried  off 
10,000,000  people.  A  single  subnormal  harvest  in  Japan 
means  untold  suffering  for  a  large  proportion  of  the  popula- 
tion.   These  examples  might  be  multiplied  indefinitel}-. 

The  non-Christian  world  is  ignorant.  Not  one  in  ten  in 
all  Asia  has  yet  had  the  opportunity  of  any  kind  of  an  educa- 
tion. President  Faunce  presents  a  terrible  array  of  figures: 
"Indians  who  can  read  and  write  number  only  ninety-eight 
per  thousand  in  the  case  of  males,  and  seven  per  thousand 
in  the  case  of  females.  We  usually  speak  of  China  as  an 
educated  people,  and  the  governing  classes  have  indeed  been 
through  a  strenuous  intellectual  discipline,  but  a  fair  estimate 

50 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-s] 

would  be  that  only  one  in  twenty  of  the  male  sex  can  read 
intelligently.  In  Egypt  only  one  person  in  seventeen  can 
read.  As  regards  the  illiteracy  of  Central  Africa  and  the 
South  Sea  Islands,  nothing  need  be  said.  The  great  mass 
of  humanity  has  no  conception  of  the  use  of  a  written  or 
printed  sign  to  convey  an  idea." 

The  non-Christian  world  is  helpless  in  the  face  of  disease. 
It  is  a  sick  world.  In  India,  where  the  British  Government 
has  attempted  to  reheve  the  situation  by  providing  hospitals 
and  medical  aid  and  medical  men,  as  many  people  as  are  in  the 
United  States  are  beyond  the  reach  of  even  the  simplest  medical 
aid.  A  general  estimate  by  careful  students  suggests  that  ninety 
out  of  every  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of  non-Christian 
lands,  especially  outside  the  largest  cities,  have  absolutely  no 
access  to  medical  treatment.  The  Rockefeller  Foundation  on 
Medical  Work  in  China  reports  that  "the  need  for  medical 
work  is  found  to  be  greater  than  anticipated.  Not  only  do 
the  Chinese  people  lack  almost  all  opportunity  for  medical 
treatment  outside  the  relatively  few  centers  where  mission- 
aries and  hospitals  have  been  estabhshed,  but  the  development 
of  modern  conditions,  the  introduction  of  machinery,  rail- 
ways, etc.,  have  resulted  in  an  increase  of  suffering  due  to 
accidents  and  occupational  diseases."  In  America  there  are 
i,6oo  physicians  to  every  1,000,000  of  population,  while  in 
China  there  is  one  physician  to,  roughly  speaking,  every 
million  people. 

And  will  not  those  whose  true  sympathy  has  led  them  to 
appreciate  the  wrongs  and  limitations  suffered  by  women  in 
civiHzed  countries  think  too  of  the  situation  in  non-Christian 
lands?  Forty  millions  of  women  in  India  pass  their  lives 
in  the  enforced  seclusion  of  the  zenanas.  Out  of  some  144,- 
000,000  of  Indian  girls  and  women,  less  than  1,000,000  receive 
the  barest  rudiments  of  an  education.  When  we  consider 
that  these  secluded  women  can  receive  medical  attention  only 
from  women,  it  is  easy  to  understand  the  urgent  call  of  the 
Indian  National  Missionary  Conference  for  women  physicians. 
Women  are  regarded  in  practice  and  theory,  both  in  Japan 

51 


(V-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

and  China,  as  constitutionally  the  inferior  of  men.  Various 
estimates  of  the  education  of  women  in  China  suggest  that 
possibly  one  in  every  thousand  can  read.  Sherwood  Eddy 
has  fairly  summed  up  the  crime  of  Islam:  "Can  it  be  said 
that  the  hundred  millions  or  more  of  Moslem  women  have 
their  God-given  rights  under  this  system?  For  centuries  the 
desolated  villages  of  Africa,  and  the  long  slave  gangs  on  the 
dreary  march  from  the  Dark  Continent  to  the  slave  markets 
of  Constantinople,  during  which  more  than  half  died  by  the 
wayside,  add  their  volume  to  the  tale  of  ruined  and  wronged 
womanhood  which  is  chargeable  to  the  Moslem  faith.  Islam 
casts  its  shadow  upon  womanhood,  even  within  the  gates  of 
Paradise,  where  she  is  conceived  to  exist  to  satisfy  the  lust 
of  man.  Any  one  who  has  traveled  through  Moslem  lands 
can  hardly  write  with  calmness  or  without  a  sense  of  burning 
indignation  when  reviewing  the  wrongs  of  womanhood  under 
Islam." 

HI 

With  all  this  it  is  necessary  to  reemphasize  the  great  fact 
of  the  solidarity  of  the  world.  The  movement  that  is  drawing 
mankind  together,  that  is  emphasizing  the  solidarity  and  one- 
ness of  humanity,  is  thereby  making  the  problems  of  the 
Orient  the  problems  of  Europe  and  America.  In  the  words 
of  James  Bryce :  "It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say,  that  for 
economic  purposes  all  mankind  is  fast  becoming  one  people 
in  which  the  hitherto  backward  nations  are  taking  a  place 
analogous  to  that  which  the  unskilled  workers  have  held  in 
each  one  of  the  civilized  nations.  Such  an  event  opens  a 
new  stage  in  the  world's  history,  a  stage  whose  significance 
has  perhaps  been  as  yet  scarcely  realized  either  by  the  thinker 
or  the  man  of  action."  Our  problems  are  indeed  world 
problems.  Not  only  the  character  of  the  message  of  the 
Kingdom  but  stern  necessity  presses  upon  its  citizens  a  world 
task. 

Western  influence.  Western  education,  Western  science. 
Western   industry,   Western   political   ideals,   have  penetrated 

52 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-s] 

the  age-long  satisfaction  of  the  Orient.  The  tension  points 
in  the  modern  world  are  not  confined  to  America.  This  un- 
rest is  as  marked  today  in  China  as  in  America,  in  Asia  as 
in  Europe.  The  added  danger  of  the  situation  in  the  Orient 
is  that  this  Western  influence,  apart  from  the  missionary 
influence,  is  largely  materialistic  and  atheistic.  These  in- 
fluences beating  in  upon  the  Eastern  world  have  undermined 
their  old  systems  of  belief,  their  old  standards  of  morality, 
and  those  customs,  ethical  and  religious,  which  have  been 
a  conserving  force  in  the  life  of  the  individual  and  the 
nation.  The  new  industry  is  for  the  most  part  actuated 
by  the  spirit  of  materialism  and  there  is  danger  that  in  Japan, 
India,  and  China  there  will  grow  up  the  most  cruel  instances 
of  exploitation  that  the  world  has  ever  seen  outside  the 
condition  of  human  slavery. 

The  outstanding  fact  of  the  history  of  our  present  time 
is  the  conquest  of  the  world  by  Western  civilization.  In  the 
words  of  Dr.  Shailer  Mathews,  "Missions  may  be  described 
as  this  civilization  carrying  its  fundamental  ethical  and  reh- 
gious  ideals  to  the  world  it  is  about  to  conquer.  The  question 
of  the  influence  of  the  West  upon  the  East  is  no  more  an 
open  question,  it  is  a  settled  fact." 

The  influence  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  has  not  always 
dominated  the  ofiicial  leaders  of  the  so-called  Christian 
nations  as  they  have  dealt  with  the  non-Christian  nations. 
These  nations  have  sought  justice  at  the  hands  of  their 
enlightened  and  progressive  neighbors ;  for  the  bread  they 
have  asked  they  have  sometimes  received  a  stone.  Coolidge, 
in  "The  United  States  as  a  World  Power,"  says :  "Suddenly, 
without  warning,  the  Western  nations  entered  upon  a  wild 
scramble  for  land  wherever  it  was  not  strongly  held  or  pro- 
tected by  competing  interests,"  and  Reisch,  in  his  book  "World 
Politics,"  adds  that  "men  who,  as  civilization  pushes  forward 
its  outposts,  come  in  contact  with  the  savages  usually  have 
no  ability  or  desire  to  understand  them.  Cruel  methods  of 
conquest  and  subjection  are  pursued  and  most  of  these  races 
would   be    happier   if    they   had   never   seen   their   civilizers." 

53 


IV-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

In  "The  Present  World  Situation,"  Mr.  Mott  shows  how 
widespread  has  been  this  Western  aggression :  "Thus  ninety- 
six  per  cent  of  the  African  continent  has  been  parceled 
out  among  European  nations ;  Persia  has  virtually  been 
divided  between  two  Christian  powers ;  other  large  sections 
in  the  heart  of  Asia  have  been  claimed  as  zones  of  interest 
by  European  nations.  Considerable  areas  of  China  have 
been  taken  from  her  by  so-called  civilized  powers.  The 
history  of  the  concessions  demanded  and  wrung  from  China 
in  her  sea  coast  and  river  ports,  is  one  of  which  the  West 
may  well  be  ashamed.  Through  such  seizures  of  great  areas 
and  ports  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  the  men  of  Western 
lands  have  given  notice  that  the  yellow  and  black  races  must 
be  obedient  to  their  will.  Such  aggressions  build  up  a  high 
wall  against  moral  and  religious  teachings  emanating  from 
representatives  of  these  aggressive  nations.  Is  it  strange  that 
many  of  the  better  informed  of  the  peoples  of  these  weaker 
countries  say,  'Christianity  is  the  religion  of  the  lands  which 
have  thus  insulted,  injured  and  robbed  us.  We  want  none  of 
it'?"  The  whole  impact  of  the  West  upon  the  East  must  be 
Christianized. 

It  is  plain  that  there  can  be  no  talk  of  just  building  up  the 
Kingdom  of  God  in  America  or  in  Europe.  The  Kingdom 
can  be  realized  in  the  Occident  only  as  it  is  reahzed  in  the 
Orient.  Christianity  has  no  choice  as  to  its  world-mission. 
Forces  not  governed  by  cautious  spirits  in  our  new  continent 
have  pushed  us  into  our  larger  destiny,  and  the  campaign 
must  be  carried  on  everywhere.  The  so-called  Christian 
nations  must  not  only  be  really  Christianized  within ;  they 
must  be  made  Christian  in  their  dealings  in  other  parts  of 
the  world.  Missionaries  of  trade  and  commerce  go  out  for 
their  selfish  ends ;  thej^  are  often  enemies  of  the  Kingdom, 
increasing  the  final  difficulty  of  the  task  a  hundredfold. 
America  can  never  be  truly  Christian  apart  from  the  Chris- 
tianizing of  all  nations. 

The  message  of  the  Kingdom  must  be  carried  everywhere — 
or  dropped  frankly  and  completely. 

54 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-s] 

IV 

For  the  colossal  task  of  making  Christianity^  a  vital  force 
in  these  lands  there  are  only  24,000  missionaries.  Forty-two 
millions  of  Asia's  population  live  in  sections  untouched  by 
missionary  agencies.  In  one  district  of  Bengal,  of  2,754,000 
population,  there  is  but  one  missionary.  At  this  rate  the  city 
of  London  would  have  less  than  three  workers.  The  situation 
in  Bengal  is  fairly  typical  of  the  situation  in  Japan,  China, 
and  Africa,  while  there  are  many  vast  areas  with  a  population 
of  two  hundred  million  as  yet  totally  unoccupied. 

After  thus  fairly  facing  the  question  of  the  greatness  of 
the  task,  the  difificulties  to  be  surmounted,  and  the  vastness 
of  the  work  yet  to  be  done,  we  properly  ask,  "What  has 
been  accomplished,  and  what  are  the  possibilities  of  ultimate 
success?" 

While  we  recognize  the  many  streams  of  influence  that 
have  made  for  the  recent  progress  in  the  non-Christian  world, 
and  would  by  no  means  attribute  all  this  progress  to  the 
missionary  enterprise  or  to  the  Christian  faith,  it  remains 
true  that  the  missionary  force  has  been  the  great  main-spring 
in  human  progress  and  in  the  advance  of  civilization  in  the 
non-Christian  world.  The  missionary  has  given  to  the  peoples 
of  these  lands  Christian  literature,  has  led  in  the  establishing 
of  modern  education,  hospitals,  leper  asylums,  philanthropic 
agencies,  industrial  schools,  and  has  been  the  most  important 
factor  in  changing  and  elevating  the  position  of  women,  in 
estabHshing  Christian  homes  and  a  Christian  church.  Under 
the  influence  of  the  missionary  great  social  reforms  have 
been  or  are  being  successfully  waged  against  infanticide, 
slavery,  child  marriage,  foot-binding,  and  the  opium  curse. 
In  the  social  and  political  reconstruction  of  these  lands,  the 
Christian  ideal  is  becoming  a  steadily  enlarging  factor. 

The  National  Review,  a  secular  journal  in  Shanghai,  said 
editorially,  November  12,  1910,  "It  would  be  very  difficult  in- 
deed to  say  where  and  when  the  movement  for  constitutional 
reform  was  born    but  we  do  not  think  we  should  be  very  far 

55 


[V-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

wrong  if  we  dated  it  in  1807,  when  Robert  Morrison  first  set 
foot  in  China.  From  that  event  dates  the  opening,  the  very 
slow  opening  of  China's  eyes  to  her  own  defects  and  weak- 
nesses, and  it  has  been  from  the  successes  of  the  Morrisons  in 
their  thousands  that  the  fuller  enlightenment  of  China  has 
come."  A  professor  of  the  Imperial  University,  Tokyo,  de- 
clares that  "at  least  a  million  Japanese  outside  the  Christian 
church  have  so  come  to  understand  Christianity  that  though 
as  yet  unbaptized  they  are  framing  their  lives  according  to 
the  teachings   of   Christ." 

As  a  typical  though  striking  illustration  of  this  missionary 
influence  look  at  the  Uganda  Mission.  In  1876  the  first  mis- 
sionaries left  England  for  Uganda.  A  number  of  them  died 
on  the  journey  and  two  were  killed  before  they  reached  their 
destination.  The  obstacles  encountered  by  the  missionaries  in 
Uganda  were  seemingly  insurmountable.  Bishop  Hannington, 
on  his  arrival  on  the  borders  of  the  country  in  1885,  was 
murdered  by  order  of  the  king.  In  the  following  year  perse- 
cution was  so  fierce  that  it  threatened  the  entire  extermination 
of  Christianity.  Native  Christians  were  persecuted,  tortured, 
roasted  alive.  The  people  were  of  a  low  order,  and  the 
prevalence  among  them  of  laziness,  falsehood,  lust,  murder, 
and  other  barbarous  practices,  together  with  witchcraft  and 
superstition,  rendered  this  a  most  unpromising  field.  The 
Arab  traders  and  the  opposition  of  Islam  added  to  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  undertaking.  The  missionaries  were  obliged  to 
reduce  the  language  to  writing.  All  these  conditions  seemed 
to  make  Uganda  a  field  where  the  conditions  of  race  and 
environment  would  make  impossible  the  establishment  of  the 
Kingdom.  For  thirteen  years  there  were  very  meager  results, 
but  in  1890  the  tide  turned  and  in  1895  the  work  was  estab- 
lished at  ten  stations  and  200  buildings  were  thronged  with 
worshippers  every  Sunday.  Between  1897  and  1902  there  were 
24,387  converts  and  on  October  5,  1914,  Daudi  Chwa,  the 
first  Christian  king  of  Uganda,  was  crowned.  The  rapid 
growth  of  the  Church  was  maintained  and  in  1914  there  were 
7,897  baptisms  of  which  6,042  were  adults.     Mass  movements 

56 


LIMITS  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [V-s] 

are  going  on  in  four  or  five  different  centers  and  education 
is  making  marvelous  advance. 

The  conclusion  to  which  the  members  of  Commission  I  of 
the  Edinburgh  Conference  came  after  a  most  careful  and 
complete  survey  of  the  non-Christian  world  epitomizes  the 
convictions  of  intelligent  students  of  the  world  situation, 

"The  Commission,  after  studying  the  facts  and 
after  taking  counsel  with  the  leaders  of  the  mis- 
sionary forces  of  the  Church  at  home  and  abroad, 
expresses  its  conviction  that  the  present  is  the  time 
of  all  times  for  the  Church  to  undertake  with  quick- 
ened loyalty  and  sufficient  forces  to  make  Christ 
known  to  all  the  non-Christian  world. 

It  is  an  opportune  time.  Never  before  has  the 
whole  world-field  been  so  open  and  so  accessible. 
Never  before  has  the  Christian  Church  faced  such  a 
combination  of  opportunities  among  both  primitive 
and  cultured  peoples. 

It  is  a  critical  time.  The  non-Christian  nations 
are  undergoing  great  changes.  Far-reaching  move- 
ments— national,  racial,  social,  economic,  religious — 
are  shaking  the  non-Christian  nations  to  their  founda- 
tions. These  nations  are  still  plastic.  Shall  they  set 
in  Christian  or  pagan  moulds?  Their  ancient  faiths, 
ethical  restraints,  and  social  orders  have  been  weak- 
ened or  abandoned.  Shall  our  sufficient  faith  fill 
the  void?  The  spirit  of  national  independence  and 
racial  patriotism  is  growing.  Shall  this  become 
antagonistic  or  friendly  to  Christianity?  There  have 
been  times  when  the  Church  confronted  crises  as 
great  as  those  before  it  now  on  certain  fields;  but 
never  before  has  there  been  such  a  synchronising  of 
crises  in  all  parts  of  the  world." 

Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

What  is  wrong  zvith  the  non-Christian  world? 
In  looking  over  the  world  today   for  a  desirable  place  to 
57 


IV-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

live,  would  you  turn  to  a  Christian  or  a  non-Christian  coun- 
try?    Why? 

Are  the  non-Christian  religions  responsible  for  the  poverty, 
disease,  ignorance,  and  degradation  of  women  in  non-Chris- 
tian lands? 

Can    an   American    ignore   with    impunity    the    conditions   in 
other  nations? 

Can  anything  happen  in  China  without  affecting  America? 
In  what  ways  is  America  influencing  China? 

Can  America  be  Christianized  without  the  Christianizing  of 
other  nations? 

Is    there    a    reasonable    hope    of   winning    the    non-Christian 
zvorld? 

How  large  is  the  present  missionary  force?  What  are  the 
outstanding  accomplishments  resulting  from  their  work? 

What  does  the  experience  in  Uganda  show  as  to  the  possi- 
bility of  Christian  work  abroad  becoming  self-sustaining  and 
self-propagating?  What  other  similar  achievements  have 
there  been  in  non-Christian  lands? 

How  large  a  missionary  force  is  needed  to  win  the  world? 
Can  America  bear  her  share? 


58 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  SUPREME  OPPORTUNITY 

Daily  Readings 

Evidently  we  have  in  this  Kingdom  of  God  a  great  challenge 
to  every  man  and  woman  whose  instincts  rise  above  the  mere 
level  of  keeping  alive  in  this  world.  Its  service  is  offered 
as  the  biggest  opportunity  that  faces  any  human  being. 

First  Day:  This  great  cause  that  lay  closest  to  the  heart 
of  the  Carpenter  of  Nazareth,  the  Master-Leader  of  men, 
was  described  by  Him  in  words  that  permit  of  no  miscon- 
struction. 

The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  treasure 
hidden  in  the  field ;  which  a  man  found,  and  hid ;  and 
in  his  joy  he  goeth  and  selleth  all  that  he  hath,  and 
buyeth  that  field. 

Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  man 
that  is  a  merchant  seeking  goodly  pearls :  and  having 
found  one  pearl  of  great  price,  he  went  and  sold  all 
that  he  had,  and  bought  it. — Matt.  13 :  44-46. 

Be  not  therefore  anxious,  saying.  What  shall  we 
eat?  or,  What  shall  we  drink?  or.  Wherewithal  shall 
we  be  clothed?  For  after  all  these  things  do  the 
Gentiles  seek ;  for  your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that 
ye  have  need  of  all  these  things.  But  seek  ye  first 
his  kingdom,  and  his  righteousness ;  and  all  these 
things  shall  be  added  unto  you.  Be  not  therefore 
anxious  for  the  morrow:  for  the  morrow  will  be 
anxious  for  itself.  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil 
thereof. — Matt.  6:31-34. 

What  was  Jesus'  plain  estimate  of  His  Cause f 
59 


[VI-2]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

What  does  it  mean  for  a  man  to  "sell  all  he  has"  to  pur- 
chase the  Kingdom? 

Second  Day  : 

And  as  he  was  going  forth  into  the  way,  there 
ran  one  to  him,  and  kneeled  to  him,  and  asked  him, 
Good  Teacher,  what  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit 
eternal  life?  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest 
thou  me  good?  none  is  good  save  one,  even  God. 
Thou  knowest  the  commandments.  Do  not  kill.  Do 
not  commit  adultery.  Do  not  steal,  Do  not  bear  false 
witness,  Do  not  defraud.  Honor  thy  father  and 
mother.  And  he  said  unto  him.  Teacher,  all  these 
things  have  I  observed  from  my  youth.  And  Jesus 
looking  upon  him  loved  him,  and  said  unto  him,  One 
thing  thou  lackest :  go,  sell  whatsoever  thou  hast, 
and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in 
heaven :  and  come,  follow  me.  But  his  countenance 
fell  at  the  saying,  and  he  went  away  sorrowful:  for 
he  was  one  that  had  great  possessions. — Mark  lo: 
17-22. 

Why  did  Jesus  face  this  strong  young  man  with  this  difH- 
cult  question  f 

What  zuas  the  young  ruler's  dilemma?   Why  did  he  refuse? 

In  what  ways  is  the  same  choice  facing  all  college  students 
today? 

Third  Day  :  Jesus  made  it  perfectly  plain,  as  we  have  seen, 
that  lo3'alty  to  Him  meant  loyalty  to  His  cause — the  Kingdom 
of  God.  This  means  that  loyalty  to  Jesus  Christ  means 
active,  willing  cooperation  in  the  Cause. 

And  everyone  that  hath  left  houses,  or  brethren, 
or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mother,  or  children,  or  lands, 
for  my  name's  sake,  shall  receive  a  hundredfold,  and 
shall  inherit  eternal  life. — Matt.  19 :  29. 

Jesus  said.  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  There  is  no  man 
that  hath  left  house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  mother, 
60 


THE  SUPREME  OPPORTUNITY  [VI-4] 

or  father,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  sake,  and  for 
the   gospel's    sake. — Mark    10 :  29. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
There  is  no  man  that  hath  left  house,  or  wife,  or 
brethren,  or  parents,  or  children,  for  the  kingdom  of 
God's  sake. — Luke  18 :  29. 

Notice,  in  these  parallel  passages,  the  identification  of  three 
issues — *'my  sake,"  '*the  gospel's  sake,"  "the  Kingdom's  sake." 

What  other  leaders  were  completely  identified  zvith  their 
causes f    Why  must  a  leader  be  so  identified^ 

Fourth  Day:  Not  only  did  Jesus  identify  Himself  and 
His  Cause,  but  He  would  accept  no  extravagant  devotion  to 
Himself  unaccompanied  by  a  real  desire  to  serve  that  Cause. 

Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me.  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  but  he  that 
doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven. 
Many  will  say  to  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  did  we 
not  prophesy  by  thy  name,  and  by  thy  name  cast  out 
demons,  and  by  thy  name  do  "many  mighty  works  ? 
And  then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  never  knew 
you :  depart  from  me,  ye  that  work  iniquity. — Matt. 
7:21-23. 

Why  did  Jesus  refuse  to  receive  devotion  like  this? 
Why  does  any  leader  doubt  the  reality  of  devotion  which 
does  not  include  his  cause F 

What  is  the  real  evidence  of  loyalty  to  "the  Hag"? 

Fifth  Day  :  When  Peter  professed  a  great  aflfection  for 
his  Master,  Jesus  answered  him  in  significant  words. 

So  when  they  had  broken  their  fast,  Jesus  saith 
to  Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  thou  me 
more  than  these?  He  saith  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord; 
thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto  him, 
Feed  my  lambs.  He  saith  to  him  again  a  second 
61 


[VI-6]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

time,  Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  thou  me?  He  saith 
unto  him,  Yea,  Lord;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee. 
He  saith  unto  him,  Tend  my  sheep.  He  saith  unto 
him  the  third  time,  Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  thou 
me?  Peter  was  grieved  because  he  said  unto  him 
the  third  time,  Lovest  thou  me?  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things ;  thou  knowest  that 
I  love  thee.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep. 
—John  21 :  15-17. 

The  answer  to  these  protestations  of  loyalty  was  a  com- 
mand to  serve.  Was  this  a  legitimate  test  of  Peter's  loyalty? 
How  did  Peter  meet  this  challenge?     Read  Acts  4:5-21. 

When  does»a  parent  most  appreciate  protestations  of  ajfec- 
tion  from  a  son  or  a  daughter f 

What  makes  a  leader  put  immediate  responsibility  on  a 
new  recruit? 

Sixth  Day  :  In  all  literature  there  is  no  finer  passage  than 
that  in  which  Jesus  proclaims  His  high  authority  and  at  the 
same  time  promises  to  His  followers  the  deepest  satisfaction 
in  His  service. 

All  things  have  been  delivered  unto  me  of  my 
Father :  and  no  one  knoweth  the  Son,  save  the  Father ; 
neither  doth  any  know  the  Father,  save  the  Son,  and 
he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  willeth  to  reveal  him. 
Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you, 
and  learn  of  me ;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart : 
and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my  yoke 
is    easy,    and    my    burden    is    light. — Matt.    11:27-30. 

Does  the  service  of  the  Kingdom  really  appeal  as  a  life  in 
which  the  highest  satisfaction  can  be  found f    Why? 

Seventh  Day  :  Would  the  following  covenant  made  by 
the  individual  in  secret  satisfy  the  demand  of  Jesus  for 
loyalty  to  Himself  and  the  Kingdom  of  God? 

62 


THE  SUPREME  OPPORTUNITY  (Vl-sl 

"I  will  live  my  life  under  God  for  others  rather  than  for 
myself,  for  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  rather 
than  my  personal  success. 

"I  will  not  drift  into  my  life  work,  but  I  will  do  the  utmost 
by  prayer,  investigation,  meditation,  and  service  to  discover 
that  form  and  place  of  life  work  in  which  I  can  become  of 
the  largest  use  to  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

"As  I  find  it,  I  will  follow  it  under  the  leadership  of  Jesus 
Christ  wheresoever  it  take  me,  cost  what  it  •may." 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

To  all  mankind  Jesus  addresses  one  single  tremendous 
command :  "Follow  Me !"  The  religion  called  Christianity 
is  not  presented  to  the  world  as  a  vague  theory  of  life,  a 
mere  body  of  ideas.  It  embodies  its  ideals  in  a  person  "at 
once  so  definite  and  enduring  as  to  satisfy  the  highest  reli- 
gious needs  of  the  individual,  and  to  provide  a  standard  by 
which,  according  to  the  common  agreement  of  the  best  and 
wisest  of  mankind,  the  religious  progress  of  humanity  is  to 
be  tested."  Jesus  is  the  "distinctive  feature  of  the  Christian 
rehgion."  And  His  distinctive  word  to  us  all  is  that  simple 
demand — "Follow  Me." 

The  command  has  often  seemed  abstract.  Loyalty  to  Jesus 
Christ  has  come  to  many  of  us  merely  as  a  term.  It  becomes 
clear,  concrete,  decisive  when  we  come  to  understand  the 
Cause  for  which  He  gave  His  Hfe.  Then  we  understand  the 
tremendous  moral  import  of  personal  devotion  to  Him. 

When  Garibaldi  cried  to  his  men,  "Follow  me!"  they  fol- 
lowed him  because  he  stood  for  a  great  cause.  They  turned 
not  back  when  he  proclaimed :  "I  promise  you  forced  marches, 
short  rations;  bloody  battles,  wounds,  imprisonment,  and 
death,"  for  they  knew  the  significance  of  loyalty  to  their 
general.  So  Jesus  claims  men's  loyalty  in  the  interest  of  an 
enterprise  to  which  no  man  need  be  ashamed  to  give  his 
allegiance — to   bring   in    God's    Kingdom   of   brotherhood    on 

63 


[VI-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

earth.  He  claimed  to  be  one  with  God.  but  He  refused  that 
devotion  to  Himself  that  was  barren  of  thoroughgoing  devo- 
tion to  His  program  of  action.  So  it  is  that  He  has  numbered 
among  His  followers  through  the  centuries  a  great  army  of 
leaders  of  men  even  though  He  has  held  out  only  the  hope 
of  the  hardest  kind  of  battles.  Only  the  security  of  His 
cause  could  make  Him  not  only  demand  that  a  man  sell  all 
his  goods,  or  hate  father  and  mother  for  His  sake,  or  take 
up  a  Hfe  of  suffering  in  His  name,  but  also  proclaim 
triumphantly  to  His  followers :  "Blessed  are  you  when  men 
denounce  you  and  persecute  you  and  utter  all  manner  of  evil 
against  you  for  my  sake !" 

II 

Our  lives  gain  significance  mainly  through  the  cause  to 
which  our  best  efforts  are  given.  Individuals  may  live  unre- 
lated lives  of  usefulness  in  a  small  way,  but  those  who  really 
play  a  part  in  the  advance  of  humanity  gain  their  real  power 
through  their  loyalties.  Name  over  some  of  those  men  and 
women  whom  we  are  forced  to  call  great,  and  notice  how 
they  fit  into  some  cause.  Moses,  Paul,  Luther,  Cromwell, 
Napoleon,  Wilberforce,  Florence  Nightingale,  Lincoln,  Lee — 
each  suggests  an  enterprise.  Moses  in  the  palace  of  Pharaoh's 
daughter  would  probably  have  lived  and  died  unknown.  Paul 
as  Rabbi  Saul  would  never  have  shaken  the  world.  Remem- 
ber that  Napoleon  rose  while  he  remained  truly  loyal  to  a 
great  movement,  and  fell  when  he  sacrificed  France  to  play 
his  own  game. 

But  there  is  no  need  to  go  to  the  outstanding  characters  of 
history.  All  about  us  are  mediocre  men  and  women  rising 
to  true  greatness,  doing  and  being  something  in  the  world, 
because  they  are  willing  to  give  themselves  up  heart  and 
soul  to  some  consuming  loyalty. 

Every  great  cause  is  hard  upon  its  followers ;  it  demands 
a  life-time  of  service,  it  calls  for  sacrifice  perhaps  to  the 
limit  of  life  itself.     But  there  are  recompenses;  for  a  cause 

64 


THE  SUPREME  OPPORTUNITY  fVI-s] 

gives  us  gomething  to  work  for.  We  feel  the  touch  of  the 
shoulders  of  our  comrades  in  times  of  crisis.  A  cause  gives 
us  duties  strenuous  and  absorbing  to  help  us  over  our  periods 
of  depression  and  sorrow,  and  a  great  sense  of  the  fulfilling 
of  our  purpose  for  living.  In  life  we  are  bound  to  struggle 
and  suffer :  how  it  is  all  transformed  if  we  can  feel  that  we 
are  struggling  for  something  and  suffering  for  something ! 

Ill 

The  Kingdom  of  God,  the  cause  of  Jesus,  is  a  cause  at 
once  complete  and  satisfying;  for  it  takes  up  within  itself 
all  other  noble  causes,  and  it  offers  a  field  for  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men.  Those  who  are  eager  to  satisfy  the  wide- 
spread spiritual  unrest  of  men,  to  make  them  see  God  as 
He  is  and  serve  Him  as  they  can — such  cannot  feel  limited 
in  the  service  of  the  Kingdom,  which  aims  to  make  God 
through  Jesus  Christ  reign  in  the  heart  of  every  man  in  the 
earth.  Those  who  are  burdened  by  the  weight  of  terrible 
poverty  and  injustice,  of  the  turmoil  of  the  conflict  between 
classes  and  races  and  nations ;  who  want  to  see  wrong  made 
right,  who  want  to  shatter  "this  sorry  scheme  of  things 
entire"  and  build  up  a  world  society  in  which  life  shall  be 
free  and  happy  and  purposeful — will  these  not  be  supremely 
satisfied  by  working  for  the  new  order  of  Jesus  Christ? 

Alike,  scholars  of  Europe  and  America  and  unlearned 
natives  of  Africa  just  saved  from  savagery,  can  all  play  a 
part.  There  is  service  for  a  statesman  like  Gladstone,  an 
explorer-missionary  Hke  Livingstone,  a  business  man  like 
George  Williams,  a  preacher  like  Phillips  Brooks,  a  scientist 
like  Agassiz,  a  missionary  like  Carey,  a  soldier  like  Gordon, 
a  social  worker  like  Jacob  Riis,  a  reformer  like  Frances 
Willard,  a  poet  like  Browning,  a  teacher  like  Mary  Lyon ;  the 
list  might  be  increased  till  it  covered  every  useful  vocation 
in  society.  There  is  no  proper  activity  of  man  that  cannot 
be  used  in  this  wide  and  varied  task. 

Nor  do  conditions  impose  any  final  limitation  on  usefulness 
65 


[VI-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

in  the  Kingdom :  some  men  can  make  their  influence  felt 
through  nation  after  nation,  but  they  are  no  greater  in  the 
Kingdom  than  others  who  have  lived  out  their  lives  in  little 
country  villages. 

And  in  such  an  undertaking  as  this  even  time  becomes 
as  nothing:  for,  though  that  heroic  young  American,  Theo- 
dore Lee,  lived  to  see  just  the  beginning  of  his  work  in  India, 
the  impulse  goes  on  and  on ;  and  in  Manchuria  leading  men 
are  still  under  the  influence  of  the  fearless  young  Arthur 
Jackson,  who  died  at  his  post  while  leading  victorious  forces 
against  the  dreaded  pneumonic  plague  in  the  first  year  of  his 
service. 

Can  we  doubt  that  this  cause  is  really  God's  cause?  If  we 
are  in  line  with  His  purpose,  the  universe  is  with  us — no 
honest  effort,  however  slight,  can  possibly  be  wasted. 

IV 

It  is  no  extravagant  suggestion  that  each  of  us  ought  to 
make  loyalty  to  the  world-wide  Kingdom  of  God  the  guiding 
motive  of  life.  Very  few  of  us  start  out  today  determined 
to  be  simply  selfish;  and  if  we  decide  against  such  a  course, 
it  is  necessary  to  discover  some  sound  basis  for  our  actions. 
Service  to  God  in  the  Kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  one 
motive  that  can  insure  a  really  successful  life.  It  ennobles 
the  smallest  acts  of  our  daily  work  and  our  daily  recreation. 
It  puts  a  great  aim  before  us.  It  puts  us  in  the  line  of  the 
great  Christian  heroes  of  the  past.  It  insures  us  friends 
from  among  those  who,  with  all  their  shortcomings,  are 
trying  harder  than  anyone  else  to  serve  the  best  interests 
of  humanity.     It  is  the  great  Cause  to  which  to  belong. 

This  service  claims  all  of  each  one  of  us.  Every  loyal 
citizen  should  be  ready  to  serve  where  and  how  he  can 
render  his  greatest  service  to  the  Kingdom.  Far  beyond 
words  to  tell  is  the  need  of  willing  and  able  men  and  women 
who  will  strive  with  every  power  they  possess  to  serve  the 
Kingdom  every  day  by  every  thought,  every  word,  every  act 

66 


V        THE  SUPREME  OPPORTUXITV  [VI-s] 

of  their  lives.    "And  lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world." 

Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

Mliat  is  the  relation  of  a  person's  cause  to  his  decisions  and 
achievements  f 

If  you  know  a  person's  supreme  loyalty,  how  far  can  yoL^ 
predict  his  achievements? 

Why  is  loyalty  so  powerful  a  force  in  life? 

How  does  a  great  cause  make  the  life  more  rewarding? 

Can  Jesus'  claims  for  the  cause  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  be 
justified? 

What  claims  did  Jesus  make  for  His  cause  of  the  Kingdom 
of  God? 

In  what  relation  to  devotion  to  Himself  did  He  place 
loyalty  to  His  Cause? 

What  opportunities  to  help  solve  the  outstanding  personal 
and  social  problems  of  the  day  does  allegiance  to  the  King- 
dom give?     How? 

How  nearly  does  this  Cause  draw  out  all  one's  energies? 
How  does  it  affect  decisions? 

Is  the  Kingdom  of  God  the  one  cause  that  can  insure  a 
completely  successful  life?  If  not,  what  cause  would  you 
suggest?     If  it  is,  why? 

Hoic  fully  does  the  following  statement  of  a  Christian's  funda- 
mental life  work  decision  embody  this  Kingdom  viewpoint 
for  directing  one's  life  and  choosing  one's  life  zvork? 

I  will  live  my  life  under  God  for  others  rather  than  for 
myself,  for  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  rather 
than  my  personal  success. 

I  will  not  drift  into  my  life  work,  but  I  will  do  the  utmost 
by  prayer,  investigation,  meditation,  and  service  to  discover 
that  form  and  place  of  life  work  in  which  I  can  become 
of  the  largest  use  to  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

As  I  find  it,  I  will  follow  it  under  the  leadership  of  Jesus 
Christ  wheresoever  it  take  me,  cost  what  it  may. 

67 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK 

Daily  Readings 

If  indeed,  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  the  Cause  most  worth 
while,  it  follows  that  our  plain  duty  is  to  give  up  our  lives 
to  the  forwarding  of  that  Cause.  Does  this  not  imply  that 
all  our  time  ought  then  to  be  enlisted  in  direct  service,  that 
anyone  who  has  proclaimed  his  loyalty  to  the  Kingdom  ought 
forthwith  to  become  a  minister,  a  missionary,  or  a  social 
worker?  But,  in  such  a  case,  how  is  the  ordinary  work  of 
the  world  to  be  accomplished?  Must  a  man  choose  between 
serving  the  Kingdom  on  the  one  hand  or  joining  the  army 
of  daily  workers  on  the  other?  Are  some  callings  "sacred" 
and  others  "secular"? 

First  Day  :  There  is  no  indication  that  John  the  Baptist, 
when  he  preached  the  Kingdom,  suggested  that  the  people 
should  leave  their  regular  occupations.  He  seemed  rather  to 
suggest  a  new  standard  to  be  applied  in  the  tasks  already 
assumed.  Notice  the  very  practical  nature  of  injunctions  to 
the  multitudes,  the  tax-collectors,  and  the  soldiers. 

He  said  therefore  to  the  multitudes  that  went  out 
to  be  baptized  of  him,  Ye  offspring  of  vipers,  who 
warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come?  Bring 
forth  therefore  fruits  worthy  of  repentance,  and  begin 
not  to  say  within  yourselves,  We  have  Abraham  to 
our  father :  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  God  is  able  of 
these  stones  .to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham.  And 
even  now  the  axe  also  lieth  at  the  root  of  the  trees : 
every  tree  therefore  that  bringeth  not  forth  good 
fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire.  And  the 
68 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  [VII-2] 

multitudes  asked  him,  saying,  What  then  must  we 
do?  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  He  that 
hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that  hath  none ; 
and  he  that  hath  food,  let  him  do  likewise.  And  there 
came  also  publicans  to  be  baptized,  and  they  said  unto 
him,  Teacher,  what  must  we  do?  And  he  said  unto 
them,  Extort  no  more  than  that  which  is  appointed 
you.  And  soldiers  also  asked  him,  saying.  And  we, 
what  must  we  do?  And  he  said  unto  them.  Extort 
from  no  man  by  violence,  neither  accuse  any  one 
wrongfully;  and  be  content  with  your  wages. — Luke 
3 :  7-14. 

Translate  John's  answer  into  modern  terms. 

How  do  his  demands  compare  with  those  of  the  old 
prophets?     (See  the  prophecy  of  Amos.) 

What  light  does  John's  attitude  throw  upon  the  problem 
of  the  difference  between  "sacred"  and  "secular"? 

Second  Day:  The  fine  religious  sense  of  the  Hebrews 
recognized  the  dignity  of  labor.  Can  you  find  a  finer  tribute 
to  the  sacredness  of  good  workmanship  than  Moses'  words 
about  Bezalel? 

And  Moses  said  unto  the  children  of  Israel.  See. 
Jehovah  hath  called  by  name  Bezalel  the  son  of  Uri. 
the  son  of  Hur,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  and  he  hath 
filled  him  with  the  spirit  of  God,  in  wisdom,  in  under- 
standing, and  in  knowledge,  and  in  all  manner  of 
workmanship ;  and  to  devise  skilful  works,  to  work 
in  gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  brass,  and  in  cutting 
of  stones  for  setting,  and  in  carving  of  wood,  to 
work  in  all  manner  of  skilful  workmanship.  And 
he  hath  put  in  his  heart  that  he  may  teach,  both  he. 
and  Oholiab,  the  son  of  Ahisamach,  of  the  tribe  of 
Dan.  Them  hath  he  filled  with  wisdom  of  heart,  to 
work  all  manner  of  workmanship,  of  the  engraver, 
and  of  the  skilful  workman,  and  of  the  embroiderer, 
in  blue,  and  in  purple,  in  scarlet,  and  in  fine  linen,  and 
of  the  weaver,  even  of  them  that  do  any  workmanship, 
69 


[VII-3]      A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

and    of    those    that    devise    skilful    works. — Exodus 
35 :  30-35. 

Is  it  zvrong  to  describe  good  workmanship  as  "inspired  of 
God"r 

What  place  has  fine  workmanship  in  the  Kingdom  enter- 
prise f 

Third  Day  :  The  old  prophet  Samuel  laid  upon  the  young 
Saul  at  the  beginning  of  Saul's  Kingship  the  high  commis- 
sion of  God. 

And  when  they  were  come  down  from  the  high 
place  into  the  city,  he  communed  with  Saul  upon 
the  housetop. — I   Sam.  9 :  25. 

Then  Samuel  took  the  vial  of  oil,  and  poured  it 
upon  his  head,  and  kissed  him,  and  said,  Is  it  not  that 
Jehovah  hath  anointed  thee  to  be  prince  over  his 
inheritance? — I  Sam.  10:1. 

Do  we  in  any  way  recognize  today  the  responsibility  of 
our  public  officials  to  God?   How? 

What  opportunity  has  a  public  oMcial  to  serve  the  King- 
dom f 

Fourth  Day  :  Paul  of  Tarsus  made  no  secret  of  his  own 
trade.  If  our  reading  of  the  record  is  correct,  he  practiced 
it  during  his  lifetime  for  considerable  periods.  One  of  the 
noblest  elements  in  Jewish  education  is  seen  in  the  fact  that 
every  true  son  of  Israel  learned  a  regular  trade  as  a  boy. 
Jesus  himself  was  a  carpenter.  Labor  had  distinct  dignity 
and  significance  for  the  Jew. 

And  he  found  a  certain  Jew  named  Aquila,  a  man 
of  Pontus  by  race,  lately  come  from  Italy,  with  his 
wife  Priscilla,  because  Claudius  had  commanded 
all  the  Jews  to  depart  from  Rome :  and  he  came 
unto  them;  and  because  he  was  of  the  same  trade, 
he  abode  with  them,  and  they  wrought ;  for  by  their 
trade  they  were  tentmakers. — Acts  18 :  2,  3. 
70 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  [VII-5] 

For  ye  remember,  brethren,  our  labor  and  travail: 
working  night  and  day  that  we  might  not  burden 
any  of  you,  we  preached  unto  you  the  gospel  of 
God. — I  Thess.  2 :  9. 

Fifth  Day  :  In  one  of  his  most  pointed  letters  Paul 
referred  to  the  bad  habit  of  forgetting  that  men  and  women 
with  various  abiUties  were  all  necessary  in  the  building  up 
of  the  Christian  community.  He  issued  a  sharp  warning 
against  the  minimizing  of  the  importance  of  any  part  of  the 
general  task. 

For  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members, 
and  all  the  members  of  the  body,  being  many,  are 
one  body;  so  also  is  Christ.  For  in  one  Spirit  were 
we  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether  Jews  or 
Greeks,  whether  bond  or  free ;  and  were  all  made  to 
drink  of  one  Spirit.  For  the  body  is  not  one  member, 
but  many.  If  the  foot  shall  say,  Because  I  am  not 
the  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body ;  it  is  not  therefore 
not  of  the  body.  And  if  the  ear  shall  say.  Because 
I  am  not  the  eye,  I  am  not  of  the  body;  it  is  not 
therefore  not  of  the  body.  If  the  whole  body  were 
an  eye,  where  were  the  hearing?  If  the  whole  were 
hearing,  where  were  the  smelling?  But  now  hath 
God  set  the  members  each  one  of  them  in  the  body, 
even  as  it  pleased  him.  And  if  they  were  all  one 
member,  where  were  the  body?  But  now  they  are 
many  members,  but  one  body.  And  the  eye  cannot 
say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee :  or  again 
the  head  to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you.  Nay, 
much  rather,  those  members  of  the  body  which  seem 
to  be  more  feeble  are  necessary :  and  those  parts 
of  the  body,  which  we  think  to  be  less  honorable, 
upon  these  we  bestow  more  abundant  honor ;  and 
our  uncomely  parts  have  more  abundant  comeliness; 
whereas  our  comely  parts  have  no  need :  but  God 
tempered  the  body  together,  giving  more  abundant 
honor  to  that  part  which  lacked ;  that  there  should 
be  no  schism  in  the  body;  but  that  the  members 
71 


[VII-6]      A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

should  have  the  same  care  one  for  another. — I  Cor. 
12:  12-25. 

Is  any  one  kind  of  labor  more  valuable  than  another?  Why, 
or  why  not? 

Sixth  Day:  Jesus  drew  out  for  special  service  a  little 
group  of  men.  Among  these  disciples,  we  find  a  great  variety 
of  types,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  they  were  evidently  chosen 
to  be  an  "inner  circle."  They  came  largely  from  the  ordinary 
occupations  of   life. 

And  he  goeth  up  into  the  mountain,  and  calleth 
unto  him  whom  he  himself  would ;  and  they  went 
unto  him.  And  he  appointed  twelve,  that  they  might 
be  with  him,  and  that  he  might  send  them  forth  to 
preach,  and  to  have  authority  to  cast  out  demons :  and 
Simon  he  surnamed  Peter ;  and  James  the  son  of 
Zebedee,  and  John  the  brother  of  James ;  and  them 
he  surnamed  Boanerges,  which  is,  Sons  of  thunder : 
and  Andrew,  and  Philip,  and  Bartholomew,  and 
Matthew,  and  Thomas,  and  James,  the  son  of  Alphaeus, 
and  Thaddaeus  and  Simon  the  Cananaean,  and  Judas 
Iscariot,    who   also    betrayed    him. — Mark   3 :  13-19. 

Here  were  simple  fishermen  like  Peter  and  Andrew ; 
ardent  enthusiasts  like  John  and  James;  Matthew,  the  tax- 
collector,  a  member  of  a  despised  caste;  Simon  the  Zealot, 
one  of  the  revolutionaries;  and  an  honest  doubter  like 
Thomas. 

Seventh  Day:  Can  we  justify  from  the  Bible  the  distinc- 
tion between  "sacred"  and  "secular"?  How  far  does  our 
study  imply  the  importance  and  necessity  of  all  callings? 

Certainly  even  under  ideal  conditions,  the  citizens  of  the 
Kingdom  require  food,  houses,  clothing,  transportation, 
medical  assistance,  legal  aid,  and  all  the  rest.  These  activities 
represented  here  are  not  additions  to  life  or  mere  supports 
of  life;  taken  all  together  they  make  up  daily  life  itself.   How 

72 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  [VII-s] 

can  the  conduct  of  all  such  work  fail  to  be  of  the  deepest 
importance  to  the  Kingdom? 

Comparatively  only  a  few  are  required  for  professional 
posts  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  Church  and  those 
agencies  specifically  engaged  in  what  is  known  as  "altruistic" 
work.  The  great  mass  of  Christian  men  and  women  are 
needed  to  carry  on  what  is  called  the  ordinary  work  of  life. 
Certainly  this  must  be  of  importance  in  the  Kingdom. 

What  difference  does  it  make,  if  all  work  is  really  a  part 
of  the  Kingdom  enterprise f 

Can  we  ever  legitimately  draw  the  distinction  between 
"sacred"  and  "secular" f 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

Church  attendance,  Sunday  School  work,  the  down-town 
mission,  the  men's  club — such  duties,  though  they  are  in  the 
direct  service  of  the  Christian  Church,  are  the  activities  of 
spare  hours.  The  money  that  we  raise  for  the  poor,  for  the 
new  church  building,  for  our  missionary  in  Africa — these 
gifts,  though  necessary  and  directly  supporting  the  regular 
work  of  the  Church,  are  taken  from  money  outside  the 
necessary  round  of  expenditure.  Of  course,  year  by  year, 
men  and  women  who  have  been  gripped  by  the  needs  of 
humanity  are  increasing  the  quantity  of  time  and  money 
they  can  devote  to  this  service  by  the  simple  process  of 
spending  less  on  other  things. 

Even  the  personal  service  of  those  who  are  ever  on  the 
alert  for  an  opportunity  to  speak  a  word  of  encouragement, 
or  sympathy,  or  practical  advice  is  the  service  largely  of 
spare  time.  The  main  difficulty  of  our  complex  modern 
life  is  that  even  the  most  persistent  among  us  can  never  find 
enough  time  for  the  cultivation  of  their  personal  contacts. 

In  any  normal  life,  "working  hours"  take  up  the  solid  bulk 
of  that  period  in  the  twenty-four  hours  when  we  are  men- 
tally and  physically  at  our  best. 

73 


[VII-s]      A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

To  what  extent  have  men  and  women  really  grasped  the 
significance  of  these  hours  for  the  advancement  of  the  King- 
dom? 

II 

The  greatest  opportunity  and  the  highest  obligations  are 
found  in  the  regular  course  of  daily  work.  At  the  same  time 
it  is  the  hardest  part  of  the  duty  of  a  Christian.  Is  it  easier 
to  carry  out  the  principles  of  Jesus  in  business  or  to  attend 
regularly  the  service  of  the  Church?  The  very  difficulty 
makes  the  challenge. 

There  is  no  real  distinction  represented  by  the  terms 
"sacred"  and  "secular" ;  and  certainly  these  terms  are,  as  a 
rule,  badly  misused  in  such  connections  as  we  are  now  con- 
sidering. If  our  greatest  opportunity  indeed  lies  in  the  course 
of  our  daily  work,  then  it  is  hard  to  conceive  of  anything 
more  truly  sacred  than  that  same  daily  work.  The  job 
becomes  a  mission.  In  the  common  manner  of  speaking,  it 
is  often  suggested  that  the  Christian  layman  makes  up  for 
the  secularity  of  his  daily  life  by  the  sacred  task  of  teaching 
a  Sunday  School  class.  If  his  daily  life  is  really  secular,  the 
class  will  probably  be  secular  too.  By  our  conduct  in  our 
working  hours,  not  by  our  actions  on  Sunday,  will  the  world 
judge  of  our  rehgious  faithfulness  and  indeed  of  the  very 
character  of  Christianity  itself. 

The  pious  aunt  who  said :  "We  had  expected  John  to  take 
up  the  Lord's  work,  but  he  has  gone  into  the  soap  business," 
expressed  with  complete  clearness  the  whole  false  philosophy 
of  life  service  that  has  grown  up  in  many  Christian  com- 
munities. 

The  true  Christian  engineer  builds  his  bridge  exact  and 
well  so  that  it  may  be  of  proper  service  to  his  fellowmen 
and  may  please  a  God  of  Truth  who  would  have  all  work 
honest  and  sound.  The  truly  Christian  physician  makes  war 
upon  disease,  curing  where  the  need  arises,  but  aiming  to 
prevent  wherever  he  can  ;  he  has  no  interest  in  the  profitable 

74 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  f\'II-s] 

venture  of  cleverly  keeping  people  sick.  The  truly  Christian 
lawyer  is  trying  to  secure  justice,  not  merely  to  win  cases. 
The  truly  Christian  merchant  sees  his  work  as  his  service  to 
the  community;  we  can  hardly  think  of  him  as  countenancing 
sharp  tricks  of  the  trade  or  as  tempting  his  customers  into 
luxurious  extravagance  and  futile  display.  He  who  is  cap- 
tured by  Jesus'  spirit  of  service  never  asks  himself.  "How 
can  I  run  my  business  so  that  I  will  make  more  money  at  it 
than  was  ever  made  before?"  but,  "How  can  I  run  my 
business  so  that,  while  it  provides  me  an  honest  living.  I  can 
make  it  serve  the  community  better  than  such  a  business 
has  ever  served  the  community  before?" 

Merely  to  mention  the  home  is  to  call  up  its  wonderful 
influence  on  the  world.  The  impression  of  the  religious 
exercises  of  the  Church  may  be  profound,  but  it  is  operative 
at  most  a  few  hours  a  week,  while  the  silent  and  persistent 
influence  of  the  home  works  day  and  night  upon  the  growing 
boy  and  girl.  At  times  one  is  tempted  to  wonder  whether 
anyone  but  the  mother  really  matters  in  the  building  up  of 
strong  humanity  in  the  modern  world.  If  we  must  apply 
the  term  sacred  somewhere  let  it  be  used  to  describe  this 
opportunity. 

All  Hfe  must  be  one  with  each  of  us.  The  dead  set  of 
six  working  days  of  commercial  and  professional  activity 
carried  out  in  the  spirit  of  personal  selfishness  or  easy 
compromise  with  low  principles,  inevitably  draws  all  the  rest 
of  our  lives  down  to  its  level;  Sunday  becomes  a  hollow 
show  and  the  services  of  the  Church  the  dreariest  mockery. 

HI 

Most  of  us  are  still  unentangled.  It  is  then  our  duty 
to  keep  out  of  those  callings  which  seem  to  make  dishonesty 
and  selfishness  inevitable.  There  are  many  of  us  who  are 
deeply  interested  in  the  problem  of  the  man  who  is  in  a 
dishonest  business  but  has  a  wife  and  family  dependent  upon 
him.     Would  it  not  be  proper  to  let  our  interest   run   deep 


[Vll-s]      A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

enough  to  cause  us,  by  proper  foresight,  to  avoid  getting  into 
that  kind  of  a  business? 

There  is,  however,  a  plain  problem  that  must  be  fairly 
faced.  We  are  all  of  us  in  a  social  and  economic  life  that 
as  yet  we  have  had  practically  no  part  in  creating.  Large 
business  enterprises  are  not  under  the  control  of  the  new 
employees  beginning  to  work  up  from  the  bottom.  All  pro- 
fessions have  a  code  that  may  at  times  be  very  oppressive. 
But  no  one  is  expected  to  turn  the  world  upside  down  in 
a  day.  It  does  often  seem  difficult  to  find  a  place  where 
everj'thing  is  open  and  above  board  as  it  should  be,  but  he 
who  starts  out  with  a  strong  initiative,  determined  to  choose 
out  of  many  openings  that  which  he  has  every  reason  to 
believe  will  make  honest  life  possible,  will  be  in  line  with  his 
plain  duty.  And  in  the  conduct  of  every-day  business,  the 
will  to  do  the  right  thing  overcomes  many  obstacles  that 
loom  large  in  the  mind  of  the  persistent  "trimmer." 

IV 

Of  course,  the  easy  talk  of  the  street  likes  to  dwell  upon 
the  vast  trickery  of  business  life,  the  dirty  side  of  politics. 
ti'.e  costly  quackery  of  medicine,  the  ludicrous  injustices  of 
the  administration  of  the  law ;  and  it  is  not  unwholesome 
that  we  should  all  realize  that  these  bad  conditions  exist. 
But  these  evils  are  present  not  to  be  talked  about  but  to 
be  overcome,  and  really  determined  men  and  women  do  not 
waste  any  time  weeping  because  they  cannot  find  a  perfect 
situation. 

The  British  statesman,  William  Ewart  Gladstone,  wished 
to  enter  the  ministry  in  early  life.  When  it  became  clear 
to  him  that  he  should  enter  public  life  he  did  not  feel  that 
he  was  turning  aside  from  his  duty;  he  began  his  career  in 
Parliament  with  the  same  vow  of  service  to  God  with  which 
he  would  have  entered  the  ministry.  Take  his  whole  life 
and  consider  it  fairly  (John  Morley,  "The  Life  of  Glad- 
stone"). Sixty  years  he  served  his  country  in  public  offices. 
Of   course  he  made  errors   in  judgment;   of  course  he  was 

76 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  [VlI-sJ 

criticized  severely  by  friend  and  foe  alike  :  that  is  the  price 
of  living  strenuously  for  service.  Mistakes  and  criticisms 
are  avoided  only  by  him  who  never  tries.  When  that  long 
and  busy  life  was  over,  Lord  Salisbury,  whose  judgment  in 
such  a  case  is  final,  said  in  the  House  of  Commons :  "He 
will  leave  behind  him,  especially  to  those  who  have  followed 
with  deep  interest  the  history  of  later  years  ...  he  will  leave 
behind  him  the  memory  of  a  great  Christian  statesman.  Set 
up  necessarily  on  high,  the  sight  of  his  character,  his  motives, 
and  his  intentions  would  strike  all  the  world.  They  will  have 
left  a  deep  and  most  salutary  influence  on  the  political 
thought  and  the  social  thought  of  the  generation  in  which 
he  lived,  and  he  will  be  long  remembered  not  so  much  for 
the  causes  in  w^hich  he  was  engaged  or  the  political  projects 
which  he  favored,  but  as  a  great  example,  to  which  history 
hardly  furnishes  a  parallel,  of  a  great  Christian  man."  All 
this  in  a  life  given  to  politics !  Gladstone  might  rightly 
consider  himself  a  statesman  "by  the  grace  of  God." 

An  example  for  men  and  women  alike  was  the  courageous 
and  persistent  Mary  Lyon,  the  founder  of  Mount  Holyoke 
College.  Against  all  kinds  of  early  difficulties  she  fought 
her  way  forward  to  a  leading  position  among  the  educa- 
tionalists of  her  day.  But  she  recognized  in  her  profession 
not  just  the  mere  opportunity  "to  do  good"  but  a  real  power 
to  be  used  in  the  effort  to  provide  women  with  the  facilities 
of  higher  education.  Her  personal  influence  everywhere 
was  a  marvel,  but  her  life  went  farther.  She  used  every 
talent  she  possessed  through  the  medium  of  her  profession 
to  develop  a  permanent  institution  for  the  higher  education 
of  women  to  stand  as  a  model  and  a  challenge  for  all  time. 
Thousands  of  college  women  today  may  well  feel  that  Mary 
Lyon  was  "called  of  God." 

Perhaps  the  limitations  that  seem  to  hedge  in  those  who 
would  render  active  service  are  felt  most  keenly  in  our  big 
modern  corporations.  But  he  who  will  read  the  story  of 
William  Henry  Baldwin,  Jr.  (James  Graham  Brooks,  "An 
American  Citizen"),  can  never  feel  hopeless.    W.  H.  Baldwin. 

77 


tVIl-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

too.  turned  toward  the  ministry  early  in  life,  because  he 
had  seen  what  we  call  our  "social  problems"  with  great  clear- 
ness, and  he  wanted  to  "do  good."  Instead  of  casting  aside 
his  ambition  to  "do  good"  when  he  entered  the  service  of  a 
railroad,  he  tried  hard  to  make  his  life  tell  in  real  service 
just  where  he  was.  This  cool-headed  man  of  business  had 
no  illusions  about  life.  He  did  not  expect  to  make  over 
society  in  a  day.  But  he  entered  into  the  problems  of  both 
workingman  and  capitalist  with  the  profoundest  sympath}'. 
and  did  everything  possible  to  make  his  enterprises  cooperative 
in  the  real  sense.  Once  when  it  was  necessary  to  cut  the 
men's  wages  ten  per  cent,  he  cut  his  own  salary  fifteen  per 
cent — incidentally  arranging  that  none  of  those  on  the  lowest 
wages  should  be  cut  at  all.  As  his  biographer  sums  up  the 
matter :  "With  much  baffling  he  learned  that  these  dififerences 
between  employer  and  employed  can  be  brought  to  justice 
only  in  a  rough  and  fumbling  way.  But  this  never  became 
a  reason  to  him  why  he  should  not  do  his  best  to  make  those 
under  him  feel  that  the  'square  deal'  was  his  honest  aim." 
He  was  called  "The  Galahad  of  the  Market-Place." 

All  these  lived  lives  of  service  in  their  own  daily  work  in 
spite  of  the  most  serious  obstacles.  They  were  not  perfect, 
an}'  of  them ;  they  had  to  use  decidedly  imperfect  tools ;  but 
the  Kingdom  of  God  is  farther  along  because  they  lived  and 
fought  in  the  great  cause. 

Who  'will  have  the  daring  to  follow  in  their  train? 


Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

What  relation  have  the  various  life  occupations  to  the  for- 
warding of  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  the  world? 

How  can  a  person  use  his  business  or  profession  to  help 
the  Kingdom?  For  instance,  concretely,  what  can  a  lawyer, 
a  physician,  a  statesman,  a  person  in  business,  a  farmer,  or 
an  engineer  do? 

What  can  the  home  do  to  help  the  Kingdom? 
78 


THE  CHRISTIAN  IN  THE  DAY'S  WORK  [VII-s] 

Can  life  occupations  be  ranked  in  the  order  of  their  im- 
portance to  the  Kingdom  ? 

Why  has  the  distinction  between  "sacred"  and  "secular" 
arisen?     On  what  is  it  based?     Is  it  justified? 

What  relative  importance  have  working  hours  in   the  zvhole 
Kingdom  service  of  an  individual:^ 

Why  are  a  person's  working  hours  so  important  to  the 
Kingdom? 

How  far  can  a  man  atone  for  hindering  the  Kingdom  in 
his  business  or  profession  by  working  for  it  in  his  spare 
hours  ? 

With  conditions  as  they  are,  how  is  it  possible  for  the 
ordinary  individual  to  be  true  to  the  Kingdom  in  his  life 
occupation? 

When  is  a  life  calling  sacred f 


79 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH 

Daily  Readings 

Without  the  definite  commitment  of  individuals  to  the 
Cause,  Christianity  cannot  advance  in  the  world ;  as  these 
individuals  represent  Jesus  Christ  in  the  home,  in  business, 
in  politics,  in  society  at  large,  the  contagion  will  pass  from 
man  to  man.  But  is  not  more  than  individual  action  necessary? 

First  Day  :  Jesus  Himself  was  loyal  to  the  Church  of  His 
day. 

And  he  taught  in  their  synagogues,  being  glorified 
of  all. 

And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had  been 
brought  up :  and  he  entered,  as  his  custom  was,  into 
the  synagogue  on  the  sabbath  day,  and  stood  up  to 
read. — Luke  4:  15,  16. 

And  coming  into  his  own  country  he  taught  them 
in  their  synagogue,  insomuch  that  they  were  aston- 
ished, and  said,  Whence  hath  this  man  this  wisdom, 
and  these  mighty  works  ? — Matt.  13  :  54. 

And  they  go  into  Capernaum;  and  straightway 
on  the  sabbath  day  he  entered  into  the  synagogue 
and  taught. — Mark  i  :  21. 

Charles  Reynolds  Brown  convmcingly  says :  "It  might  be 
well  to  remind  those  who  laud  Christ  and  deride  His  Church 
that  this  was  not  His  own  attitude.  The  Church  of  His  day 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  so  sincere,  so  efficient  in  human 

80 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-2] 

activity,  nor  so  well  stocked  with  simple,  every-day  righteous- 
ness, as  is  the  average  church  of  our  own  time.  Yet  it  was 
His  custom  to  enter  the  synagogue  on  the  Sabbath.  He 
observed  the  appointed  feasts  of  the  national  Church.  He 
utilized  the  opportunities  it  offered  for  normal  effort.  And 
this  same  Jesus,  who  taught  'the  Fatherhood  of  God  and 
the  brotherhood  of  man,'  at  the  close  of  His  hfe  sent  His 
apostles  'to  disciple  all  nations,  and  to  baptize  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.' 
The  only  place  where  His  command  is  being  taken  seriously 
is  in  the  Church  of  Christ.  The  same  Jesus  who  told  men 
to  love  God  and  to  love  their  neighbors,  instituted  the  Lord's 
Supper  and  gave  the  command,  'This  do  in  remembrance  of 
Me.'  The  only  place  where  this  command  is  being  obeyed, 
and  the  sacrament  regularly  and  devoutly  observed,  is  in  the 
Church.  There  would  seem  to  be  a  certain  confusion  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  praise  Christ  and  then  denounce  His 
Church  as  a  needless  incumbrance  in  the  modern  world." 

In  what  respects  is  the  Church  of  our  day  more  worthy 
of  our  loyalty  than  was  the  Church  of  His  day  zvorthy  of 
Jesus'  loyalty  f 

Second  Day  :  The  early  Christians  in  their  meeting  together 
met  a  fundamental  need.  First  there  were  just  a  few  fol- 
lowers who  met  in  one  place. 

Then  returned  they  unto  Jerusalem  from  the  mount 
called  Olivet,  which  is  nigh  unto  Jerusalem,  a  sabbath 
day's  journey  off.  And  when  they  were  come  in, 
they  went  up  into  the  upper  chamber,  where  they 
were  abiding;  both  Peter  and  John  and  James  and 
Andrew,  Philip  and  Thomas,  Bartholomew  and  Mat- 
thew, James  the  son  of  Alphaeus,  and  Simon  the 
Zealot,  and  Judas  the  son  of  James.  These  all  with 
one  accord  continued  stedfastly  in  prayer,  with  the 
women,  and  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  with  his 
brethren. — Acts    i  :  12-14. 

81 


lVIII-3]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Worship,  public  confession,  prayer,  the  breaking  of  bread, 
fellowship,  teaching — these  all  were  found  in  the  services. 
Compare  Acts  2:42;  Col.  3:16;  Eph.  5:19;  I  Cor.  11:26; 
II  Thess.  I  :  1-4. 

Why  arc  these  common  meetings  of  so  much  help  in  daily 
lifef 

Third  Day  :  Very  soon  after  Jesus'  bodily  presence  had 
been  withdrawn  from  the  world,  we  see  His  disciples 
organized  for  active  work. 

Now  when  they  heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in 
their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter  and  the  rest  of  the 
apostles,  Brethren,  what  shall  we  do?  And  Peter 
said  unto  them.  Repent  ye,  and  be  baptized  every  one 
of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  the  remis- 
sion of  your  sins ;  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  For  to  you  is  the  promise,  and  to 
your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as 
many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call  unto  him.  And 
with  many  other  words  he  testified,  and  exhorted 
them,  saying.  Save  yourselves  from  this  crooked 
generation.  They  then  that  received  his  word  were 
baptized :  and  there  were  added  unto  them  in  that 
day  about  three  thousand  souls.  And  they  continued 
stedfastly  in  the  apostles'  teaching  and  fellowship, 
in  the  breaking  of  bread  and  the  prayers. 

And  fear  came  upon  every  soul ;  and  many  wonders 
and  signs  were  done  through  the  apostles.  And  all 
that  believed  were  together,  and  had  all  things 
common;  and  they  sold  their  possessions  and  goods, 
and  parted  them  to  all,  according  as  any  man  had 
need.  And  day  by  day,  continuing  stedfastly  with 
one  accord  in  the  temple,  and  breaking  bread  at 
home,  they  took  their  food  with  gladness  and  single- 
ness of  heart,  praising  God,  and  having  favor  with  all 
the  people.  And  the  Lord  added  to  them  day  by  day 
those  that  were  saved. — Acts  2:37-47. 
82 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-4J 

Compare  Acts  16:5;  9 :  3i  ;  8:1;  4 :  32-36. 

What  were  the  activities  of  the  earliest  Christians? 
In  what  respect  do  they  differ  from  the  activities  of  the 
Christian  Church  today? 

Why  did  the  early  Christians  organize? 

Fourth  Day  :  In  being  loyal  to  the  Church,  Paul  was  most 
loyal  to  Jesus;  his  words  are  aflame  as  he  speaks  of  the 
Church  and  enlarges  on  her  glory,  her  message,  and  her 
mission. 

For  this  cause  I  also,  having  heard  of  the  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  which  is  among  you,  and  the  love 
which  ye  show  toward  all  the  saints,  cease  not  to  give 
thanks  for  you,  making  mention  of  you  in  my  prayers ; 
that  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of 
glory,  may  give  unto  you  a  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
revelation  in  the  knowledge  of  him;  having  the  eyes 
of  your  heart  enlightened,  that  ye  may  know  what 
is  the  hope  of  his  calling,  what  the  riches  of  the 
glory  of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints,  and  what  the 
exceeding  greatness  of  his  power  to  us-ward  who 
believe,  according  to  that  working  of  the  strength 
of  his  might  which  he  wrought  in  Christ,  when  he 
raised  him  from  the  dead,  and  made  him  to  sit  at 
his  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places,  far  above  all 
rule,  and  authority,  and  power,  and  dominion,  and 
every  name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this  world, 
but  also  in  that  which  is  to  come :  and  he  put  all 
things  in  subjection  under  his  feet,  and  gave  him 
to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  church,  which  is 
his  body,  the  fulness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all. 
— Eph.  1 :  15-23. 

Hoii'  do  you  account  for  Paul's  enthusiasm  for  the  Church? 

Fifth  Day:  The  Church  is  not  the  Church  of  man,  but  of 
the  living  God. 

83 


[VIII-6]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

The  church  of  the  Hving  God,  the  pillar  and  ground 
of  the  truth.— I  Tim.  3 :  15. 

Husbands,  love  your  wives,  even  as  Christ  also 
loved  the  church,  and  gave  himself  up  for  it;  that 
he  might  sanctify  it,  having  cleansed  it  by  the  v^ash- 
ing  of  water  with  the  word,  that  he  might  present 
the  church  to  himself  a  glorious  church,  not  having 
spot  or  wrinkle  or  any  such  thing;  but  that  it  should 
be  holy  and  without  blemish. — Eph.  5 :  25-27. 

Take  heed  unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock, 
in  which  the  Holy  Spirit  hath  made  you  bishops,  to 
feed  the  church  of  the  Lord  which  he  purchased 
with  his  own  blood. — Acts  20:28. 

The  Church  is  the  chief  channel  through  which  God  mani- 
fests Himself  to  the  world.  "There  are  other  channels  but 
none  so  wide  and  deep  as  this.  It  is  in  the  Church  that  the 
followers  of  God  congregate;  in  the  Church  that  His  word 
is  studied,  His  Gospel  preached  and  the  knowledge  of  His 
will  sought.  It  is  through  the  lives  and  efforts  of  the  ministry 
and  laity  of  the  Church  that  He  communicates  His  love  and 
power  to  men.  The  philanthropic  work  which  is  one  of  the 
glories  of  our  age  could  not  live  without  the  Church,  for 
while  it  receives  material  assistance  from  some  individuals 
who  do  not  profess  to  be  Christians,  it  has  been  estimated 
that  it  receives  no  less  than  eighty-six  per  cent  of  its  financial 
support  and  ninety  per  cent  of  its  workers  from  communicants 
of  evangelical  churches"  (A.  J.  Brown,  "Unity  and  Missions"). 

The  condition  of  human  society  depends  upon  the  degree 
of  the  Church's  vitality. 

Sixth  Day: 

For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father, 
from  whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is 
named,  that  he  would  grant  you,  according  to  the 
riches  of  his  glory,  that  ye  may  be  strengthened 
with  power  through  his  Spirit  in  the  inward  man; 
84 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-7] 

that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  through  faith ; 
to  the  end  that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love,  may  be  strong  to  apprehend  with  all  the  saints 
what  is  the  breadth  and  length  and  height  and  depth, 
and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  ye  may  be  filled  unto  all  the  fulness 
of  God. 

Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to 
the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  him  be  the 
glory  in  the  church  and  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  all 
generations  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. — Eph.  3:  14-21. 

"The  Church  is  the  inevitable  and  indestructible  creation  of 
Christ's  spirit.  That  He  founded  it  and  that  it  is  the  expres- 
sion of  His  will,  is  also  evidenced  by  Christian  experience. 
History  proves  that  the  continuance  of  Christianity  is 
dependent  upon  the  Church.  The  Church  is  an  essential 
constituent  of  the  Christian  religion.  The  principles  of  Jesus 
do  not  enthrone  themselves  in  human  society  without  the 
assistance  of  the  Church.  Whenever  the  Church  prospers, 
society  improves.  Whenever  the  Church  languishes,  society 
degenerates.  The  principles  of  Jesus  take  root  in  pagan 
lands  only  when  they  are  planted  there  and  watered  by  the 
Church.  The  Gospel  would  never  have  gotten  out  of  Pales- 
tine had  it  not  been  for  the  Christian  brotherhood,  nor  out 
of  Europe  into  England  had  it  not  been  for  the  Church,  nor 
out  of  the  Old  World  into  the  New  had  the  Church  not  sent 
it"   (Charles  E.  Jefferson,  "The  Building  of  the  Church"). 

Seventh  Day: 

But  now  in  Christ  Jesus  ye  that  once  were  far  off 
are  made  nigh  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  For  he  is  our 
peace,  who  made  both  one,  and  brake  down  the  middle 
wall  of  partition,  having  abolished  in  his  flesh  the 
enmity,  even  the  law  of  commandments  contained  in 
ordinances;  that  he  might  create  in  himself  of  the 
two  one  new  man,  so  making  peace ;  and  might 
85 


[VIII-s]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

reconcile  them  both  in  one  body  unto  God  through 
the  cross,  having  slain  the  enmity  thereby:  and  he 
came  and  preached  peace  to  you  that  were  far  off, 
and  peace  to  them  that  were  nigh:  for  through  him 
we  both  have  our  access  in  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father. 
So  then  ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  sojourners, 
but  ye  are  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the 
household  of  God,  being  built  upon  the  foundation  of 
the  apostles  and  prophets,  Christ  Jesus  himself  being 
the  chief  corner  stone ;  in  whom  each  several  build- 
ing, fitly  framed  together,  groweth  into  a  holy  temple 
in  the  Lord ;  in  whom  ye  also  are  builded  together 
for  a  habitation  of  God  in  the  Spirit, — Eph.  2:  13-22. 

The  New  Testament  Church  is  a  living  vital  organism,  a 
self-sacrificing,  conquering  society  of  brothers,  a  power  house 
created  for  the  purpose  of  working  upon  the  thought  and 
conduct  of  the  world.  The  Church  does  not  exist  for  herself; 
the  Church  lives  and  labors  for  humanity.  No  other  organiza- 
tion in  all  the  world  has  the  daring  adventure  and  impelling 
faith  of  the  Christian  Church.  She  conceives  of  her  mission 
as  overleaping  all  racial  and  national  boundaries,  and  as 
including  in  her  service  of  helpful  ministry  and  Christian 
fellowship  men  of  every  race  in  all  the  world. 


Study  for  the  Week 


God  comes  to  man  first.  Unless  he  does,  man  can  never 
find  Him.  Human  life  gains  its  meaning  from  the  fact  of 
God's  passionate  concern  for  us.  Jesus  came  to  express  this 
life  and  impart  divine  power — to  give  "life  more  abundantly." 
What  "He  began  to  do"  the  Church  through  Him  continues. 
The  Church  is  the  stream  of  spiritual  power  in  which  we 
participate  as  a  great  common  fellowship  in  the  reality  of  the 
divine   life.     The  Apostle   Paul   speaks   of   the   Church   as   a 

86 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-s] 

''Body  of  Christ."  This  expresses  the  fundamental  concep- 
tion of  the  Church  as  it  has  existed  through  the  ages.  It  is 
an  organism  whose  members  share  in  the  life  of  Christ 
Himself,  "and  indeed  if  one  can  grasp  the  idea  of  a  wonder- 
ful society,  partly  divine,  partly  human,  knit  up  into  Christ 
by  mystical  yet  very  real  links  and  bands,  in  which  we  have 
fellowship  with  Him  and  also  with  one  another,  it  does 
m'arvellously  enrich  and  dignify  our  conception  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion"  (W.  J.  Carey,  "The  Life  in  Grace").  But 
though  we  must  not  lose  this  idea  of  the  Church,  it  is  not 
in  this  aspect  that  we  study  it  in  this  book.  Rather  do  we 
consider  it  as  it  has  shaped  itself  into  an  organization  with 
various  local  manifestations  to  do  a  certain  work  in  the  world. 

Churches  came  into  being  first  in  Jerusalem,  and  afterward 
in  other  places,  to  embody,  perpetuate,  and  extend  through  the 
world  the  teaching  and  spirit  of  Jesus  and  to  take  care  of 
and  promote  the  life  of  which  Christianity  consists.  It  has 
aptly  been  called  the  institute  of  humanity,  or,  better  still,  a 
great  "divine  human  society,"  the  "Body  of  Christ." 

The  Christian  Church  stands  for  the  noblest  of  human 
aspirations — a  man's  desire  to  meet  and  know  the  Living  God. 
Its  hymns,  its  services,  its  very  spires  pointing  to  the  sky, 
breathe  the  spirit  of  worship,  devotion,  and  adoration !  Its 
buildings  have  been  regarded  as  holy  places,  because  the 
Church  has  been  considered  in  a  special  way  the  antechamber 
of  Heaven.  To  solemnize  us  with  some  sense  of  the  glory 
and  majesty  of  the  unseen;  to  quicken  us  with  a  conscious- 
ness of  the  presence  of  Almighty  God;  to  assure  us  in 
moments  of  doubt;  to  guide  us  into  the  depths  of  eternal 
truth — this  is  the  peculiar  and  unique  ministry  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  With  a  world  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  material 
things  surging  around  it,  the  Church  raises  the  Cross  high 
above  the  heads  of  the  crowd  and  points  the  people  ever  to 
"the  things  that  are  eternal."  It  is  in  the  Church  that  man 
is  ministered  to  directly  and  specifically  as  a  human  being 
made  in  the  image  of  God,  and  given  the  spiritual  sustenance 
which  he  needs  for  daily  life  and  growth. 

87 


[VIII-s]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

While  man  endures  with  his  outreaching  desires  and  up- 
ward gaze,  there  can  be  no  substitute  for  the  Church  in  its 
ministry  to  the  human  soul.  "The  churches  are  the  sociaHzed 
expression  of  the  religious  life  of  men.  They  awaken  the 
religious  instinct  in  the  young  of  the  race,  teach  them  spiritual 
conceptions  of  life,  put  them  into  historical  continuity  with 
the  holy  men  of  the  past,  hem  down  the  socialized  treasures 
of  religion — the  Bible,  the  prayers,  the  hymns  of  the  Church 
— and  give  the  people  an  opportunity  to  connect  their  religious 
impulse  with  the  service  of  men.  Presumably  the  religious 
instinct  would  live  on  even  if  the  churches  perish,  but  in 
many  it  would  starve  by  neglect  or  relapse  into  barbaric 
forms  if  deprived  of  the  social  shelter  given  by  the  Church. 
Even  those  who  do  not  believe  in  the  reality  of  what  the 
churches  teach,  will  acknowledge  that  religion  has  been  the 
most  potent  form  of  idealism  among  the  great  masses  of  men 
throughout  history"  (Walter  Rauschenbusch,  "Christianizing 
the  Social  Order"). 

II 

Consider  what  the  Church  has  conserved  for  humanity. 
The  Church,  through  the  religious  impulse  which  it  gives  to 
its  members,  generates  the  great  ideals  of  humanity.  Why 
is  it  that  the  outsider  is  so  ready  to  accuse  the  Christian  of 
insincerity  and  hypocrisy?  Simply  because  the  Christian  ideal 
stands  always  so  high  that  no  human  member  has  ever  been 
able  to  live  up  to  it.  The  mere  declaration  of  the  Christian 
ideals  of  righteousness,  truth,  brotherhood,  love,  service,  and 
the  value  of  man  as  a  being  made  in  the  image  of  God, 
challenges  the  world  ever  and  incessantly  above  the  little 
noise  of  the  discussions  of  the  day.  The  best  experiences 
of  ages  past  have  been  poured  into  this  spiritual  treasury. 
It  is  rich  with  the  stores  of  the  ages.  W^hat  other  institution 
has  through  century  after  century  held  up  such  ideals  ? 

The  Church  has  conserved  the  Bible.  Set  aside  the  part  the 
Church  played  in  the  creation  of  the  New  Testament,  and 

88 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-s] 

still  we  have  left  an  immeasurable  contribution  to  mankind 
in  the  persistent  and  intelligent  care  of  that  body  of  sacred 
writings  that  alone  seems  able  to  satisfy  the  deepest  spiritual 
needs  of  man.  Those  who  early  preserved  the  few  precious 
manuscripts,  the  patient  monks  who  spent  many  watchful 
hours  over  their  careful  copies,  the  preachers  and  teachers 
who  have  kept  alive  the  truth  by  incessant  emphasis  upon 
teaching  and  study — all  these  and  many  others  have  played 
a  part  in  saving  for  us  the  Scriptures.  It  is  in  the  Church 
that  the  Ten  Commandments  are  thundered  forth;  it  is  in 
the  Christian  Church  that  the  Golden  Rule  is  repeated  again 
and  again,  not  merely  as  a  beautiful  ideal,  but  as  a  practical 
mode  of  life;  it  is  in  the  Church  that  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount  constantly  stirs  up  the  very  depths  of  men's  souls ; 
it  is  in  the  Church  that  Sunday  after  Sunday  are  read  those 
matchless  parables  that  carry  to  men  the  message  that  they 
are  sons  of  the  Most  High. 

The  Church  has  conserved  the  family.  The  homes  that 
have  marked  the  real  advance  of  civilization  are  the  product 
of  the  Christian  Church.  The  marriage  relationship  has  been 
uniformly  encouraged  as  a  worthy  and  sacred  undertaking, 
and  the  best  interests  of  childhood  have  ever  been  proclaimed 
from  Christian  pulpits.  The  home  as  we  know  it  is  unknown 
now  except  where  the  ideal  of  Christianity  through  the 
Church  has  been  worked  into  daily  life. 

The  Church  has  striven  always  to  save  one  day  in  seven 
for  the  spiritual  refreshment  of  man.  Even  those  who 
desecrate  the  day  most  carelessly  are  fully  aware  of  what  it 
means  to  them  in  relief  from  continuous  toil  that  would  soon 
otherwise  become  unbearable,  and  those  who  really  use  this 
one  day  in  seven  as  a  day  of  God  need  no  reminding  of  the 
debt  they  owe  to  the  Church. 

Ill 

Democracy  more  and  more  demands  open,  intelligent  public 
opinion.     By  virtue   of   its   position,   the   Church  has  always 

89 


[Vlll-s]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

been  a  molder  and  purifier  of  public  opinion.  Its  possibilities 
range  out  far  beyond  even  its  present  achievements.  The  very 
presence  of  the  Church  in  a  community  is  a  silent,  continuous 
force  for  righteousness  and  justice.  In  a  speech  some  years 
ago,  Lloyd  George  said :  "Churches  ought  to  be  like  a  search- 
light turned  on  all  sides  to  expose  to  shame  those  in  authority 
into  doing  something.  The  task  our  Master  came  here  for 
was  to  lift  the  needy  from  the  mire  and  the  poor  from  a 
dunghill,  and  it  is  the  Christian  Church  alone  that  can  accom- 
plish it." 

Both  in  America  and  in  the  non-Christian  world  the  Church 
has  been  a  conserving,  stable  force  that  has  created  an  atmos- 
phere in  which  a  Christian  public  opinion  could  grow.  The 
Church  has  focused  public  opinion  and  made  it  a  vital  force 
in  improving  conditions  and  stimulating  public  morality. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  power  of  the  Church  in  arousing 
and  directing  public  opinion,  the  procedure  of  the  Chicago 
Vice  Commission  is  a  most  instructive  example.  On  January 
31,  1910,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Chicago  by  the  Church  Federa- 
tion, composed  of  clergy  representing  six  hundred  congrega- 
tions. Dean  Sumner  of  the  Cathedral  read  a  paper  on  the 
Social  Evil  Problem.  At  its  conclusion  the  following  reso- 
lution was  unanimously  adopted  : 

"RESOLVED,  that  the  mayor  of  the  City  of  Chicago  be 
asked  to  appoint  a  commission  made  up  of  men  and  women 
who  command  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  public  at 
large,  this  commission  to  investigate  thoroughly  the  conditions 
as  they  exist.  With  this  knowledge  obtained,  let  it  map  out 
such  a  course  as,  in  its  judgment,  will  bring  about  some 
relief  from  the  frightful  conditions  which  surround  us. 
Taking  this  report  as  a  basis,  let  us  enlist  the  support  of 
every  civic,  protective,  philanthropic,  social,  commercial  and 
religious  body  in  the  city  to  carry  out  the  plans  suggested. 
If  the  present  administration  feels  that  it  cannot  subscribe 
to  such  a  plan,  make  the  report  the  basis  of  a  pledge  from 
the  political  parties  at  the  next  election  and  make  it  the  basis 
for  an  election  issue.     But  first  get  the  plan.    The  city  press 

90 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VIII-s] 

will  be  back  of  any  sane  movement  to  improve  present  con- 
ditions. The  Church  certainly  is.  Social  settlements  have 
been  agitating  and  endeavoring  to  reach  some  decision.  The 
general  public  is  in  a  mood  to  listen  to  such  conclusions  as 
such  a  commission  would  reach." 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  mayor  and 
present  the  resolution  for  his  consideration.  He  responded 
promptly  by  appointing  a  vice  commission  consisting  of  thirty 
leading  citizens.  The  commission  has  given  the  police  a 
new  and  comprehensive  program  with  an  awakened  civic 
conscience  behind  it.  Such  instances  might  be  multiplied  to 
show  that  one  of  the  most  powerful  agencies  in  the  world 
today  for  stimulating  the  social  conscience  and  securing 
remedial  action  is  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1903  the  Philippine  Commission  drew  up  a  bill  providing 
for  the  granting  of  a  monopoly  for  the  sale  of  opium.  The 
Church,  through  its  missionary  leaders  in  the  Philippine 
Islands,  Bishop  Brent  and  Rev.  Homer  C.  Stuntz.  voiced  a 
protest  to  this  bill,  and  in  the  public  hearing  Dr.  Stuntz  said  : 
"Back  of  the  EvangeHcal  Union  (a  missionary  federation 
of  churches)  stands  a  constituency  not  less  than  thirty 
millions  strong  in  the  United  States  alone,  and  that  con- 
stituency stands  here  this  day  and  goes  on  record  as  unalter- 
ably opposed  to  the  fundamental  principle  of  this  bill  and 
nearly  all  its  details.  If  defeated  toda3^  they  will  resume  the 
agitation  with  redoubled  zeal  tomorrow.  They  will  pray  and 
petition  and  vote  for  the  repeal  of  legislation  which  their 
representatives  were  not  able  to  prevent." 

The  bill  was  defeated,  a  commission  appointed  to  study 
the  problem,  and  a  new  bill  was  finally  presented  and  passed 
which  provided  for  the  prohibition  of  the  importation,  use, 
and  sale  of  opium  in  the  Philippines.  A  united  Church  in 
action  is  invincible. 


91 


[VIII-s]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

IV 

From  the  time  of  the  Thirteenth  Century,  in  the  establishing 
of  schools  in  connection  with  the  cathedrals  and  monasteries, 
and  the  founding  of  the  first  universities,  the  Church  has 
had  a  proud  history  in  its  influence  on  education.  Early 
education  in  America  owes  much  to  the  Church.  Many  of 
our  older  colleges  and  universities  in  Canada  and  the  United 
States  were  founded  by  the  Church. 

When  we  turn  to  the  non-Christian  world  we  see  that  the 
Church  has  rendered  an  equally  important  service  in  its  work 
of  originating,  conducting,  and  promoting  public  education  in 
all  its  grades,  from  the  kindergarten  up  to  the  university. 
Not  only  this,  but  it  has  set  standards  which  government 
systems  of  education  in  these  lands  have  carefully  followed. 

The  Church  has  ministered  to  human  needs  in  multitudinous 
ways,  and  her  charities  and  philanthropies,  both  those  founded 
by  her  directly  and  indirectly,  have  been  of  incalculable  benefit 
in  alleviating  human  suffering  and  providing  for  the  comfort 
of  those  overwhelmed  by  misfortune  and  adversity.  The 
hospital  was  originally  a  direct  agency  of  the  Church,  founded 
and  inspired  by  the  spirit  and  example  of  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  the  Great  Physician  Himself.  To  the  hospital  the 
Church  added  the  institution  of  organized  nursing.  The 
incalculable  blessing  of  these  two  institutions  has  laid  the 
world  forever  under  obligation  to  the  Church. 

The  churches  recognize  the  pressure  of  the  social  problems 
of  our  day  and  are  giving  more  and  more  careful  study  and 
thought  to  these  most  urgent  social  questions.  This  is  strik- 
ingly illustrated  by : 

"The  social  creed  adopted  by  the  Federal  Council  of 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  representing  thirty  denomina- 
tions, 138.155  churches,  and  more  than  17,000,000  members, 
which  is  as  follows  : 

1.  For  equal  rights  and  complete  justice  for  all  men  in  all 
stations  of  life. 

2.  For  the  protection  of  the  family,  by  the  single  standard 

92 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  [VTII-s] 

of  purity,   uniform   divorce  laws,  proper   regulation  of   mar- 
riage, and  proper  housing. 

3.  For  the  fullest  possible  development  of  every  child,  espe- 
cially by  the  provision  of  proper  education  and  recreation. 

4.  For  the  abolition  of  child  labor. 

5.  For  such  regulation  of  the  conditions  of  toil  for  women 
as  shall  safeguard  the  physical  and  moral  health  of  the 
community. 

6.  For  the  abatement  and  prevention  of  poverty. 

7.  For  the  protection  of  the  individual  and  society  from  the 
social,  economic  and  moral  waste  of  the  liquor  traffic. 

8.  For  the  conservation  of  health. 

9.  For  the  protection  of  the  worker  from  dangerous  ma- 
chinery,  occupational  diseases  and  mortality. 

10.  For  the  right  of  all  men  to  the  opportunity  for  self- 
maintenance,  for  safeguarding  this  right  against  encroachment 
of  every  kind,  and  for  the  protection  of  workers  from  the 
hardships  of  enforced  unemployment. 

11.  For  suitable  provision  for  the  old  age  of  the  workers, 
and  for  those  incapacitated  by  injury. 

12.  For  the  right  of  employees  and  employers  alike  to 
organize  for  adequate  means  of  conciliation  and  arbitration 
in  industrial  disputes. 

13.  For  a  release  from  employment  one  day  in  seven. 

14.  For  the  gradual  and  reasonable  reduction  of  the  hours 
of  labor  to  the  lowest  practicable  point,  and  for  that  degree 
of  leisure  for  all  which  is  a  condition  of  the  highest  human 
life. 

15.  For  a  living  wage  as  a  minimum  in  every  industry,  and 
for  the  highest  wage  that  each  industry  can  afiford. 

16.  For  a  new  emphasis  upon  the  application  of  Christian 
principles  to  the  acquisition  and  use  of  property,  and  for  the 
most  equitable  division  of  the  product  of  industry  that  can 
ultimately   be   devised." 

So  in  attacking  the  social  evils  of  the  non-Christian  world, 
such  as  caste,  child  marriage,  seclusion  of  women,  the  opium 
traffic,  in  softening  racial  antagonism — in  the  whole  field  of 
social  relief  and  reform  in  those  lands,  the  Christian  Church 
has  been  preeminently  the  leading  force. 

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[VIII-s]     A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

In  the  matter  of  international  peace  the  Church  has  already 
created  a  body  of  sentiment,  but  must  continually  take  a  larger 
part  in  this  great  world  question.  Dr.  Gulick  has  said: 
"Without  the  contribution  which  the  Church  has  to  make 
world  peace  is  unattainable.  The  Church  membership  includes 
hundreds  of  men  and  women  already  committed  to  righteous- 
ness and  justice.  They  live  in  many  lands  and  belong  to  many 
races.    In  principle  the  Church  is  a  world  peace  society." 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  is  thus  the  mightiest  force 
known  among  men  for  national  betterment  and  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  truly  Christian  order. 


The  Church  stands  for  Christianity,  for  Jesus  Christ  Him- 
self. It  may  fall  away  at  times  from  His  principles ;  it  can 
never  hope  to  be  absolutely  perfect  according  to  His  standards 
in  this  world;  but  by  its  own  profession  it  may  ever  be  called 
back  to  loyalty  to  Him.  To  become  a  Church  member  means 
definitely  to  ally  one's  self  with  Christ  and  the  Christian 
cause.  The  Church  has  persisted  through  the  centuries,  and 
as  it  has  embodied  the  spirit  and  message  of  Christ,  has  been 
an  abiding  influence  in  conserving  the  best  elements  in  our 
modern  civilization,  in  holding  men  and  women  to  their 
allegiance  to  Christ  and  in  satisfying  the  deepest  needs  of  the 
human  soul. 

The  Church  is  a  divine  human  fellowship.  Christians  meet 
around  One  Person  with  a  common  aim  to  realize  His  wishes 
in  the  world. 

The  Church  opens  up  the  possibilit}-^  of  united  action. 
Cooperation  alone  can  secure  efficiency,  continuity,  and  per- 
manency in  any  great  movement. 

The  Church,  the  Body  of  Christ,  with  her  heritage  of  more 
than  nineteen  centuries,  makes  possible  "the  communion  of 
saints"  through  our  entering  into  spiritual  solidarity  with 
Jesus  and  the  holiest  men  of  all  ages.  By  participating  in  the 
hymns    and    prayers,    the    sacraments    and    worship    of    the 

94 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  fVIII-s] 

Church,  and  by  the  observance  of  the  anniversaries  of  the 
Church,  our  Hves  will  be  strengthened,  enriched,  and  hallowed 
for  life  and  service. 


Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

Would   you    he   imlling    to    live    in    a    community    zi'ithout    a 
church?    Why  or  why  not? 

In  a  practical  way,  what  place  has  the  Church  filled  in   the 
Kingdom's  progress? 

Why  did  the  Church  come  into  existence? 

What  contributions  has  the  Church  brought  to  the  world's 
progress?  Is  it  likely  that  these  would  have  come  without 
the  Church? 

What  has  the  Church  saved  for  the  world?     How? 

If  the  Church  had  not  been  divinely  commissioned  and  of 
use  in  the  world,  how  long  would  it  have  survived  ? 

To  what  extent  has  the  Church  been  more  than  an  organ- 
ization?    What  is  the  heritage  of  the  Church  Universal? 

What  is  the  mission  of  the  Church  in  the  world  today? 

If  Christianity  were  just  being  started,  do  you  think  some 
such  institution  as  the  Church  would  be  wise? 

Has  a  religion  ever  been  successfully  propagated  without 
organization?     To  what  extent  is  organization  essential? 

How  far  is  an  organized  institution  like  the  Church  neces- 
sary if  Christians  are  to  solve  such  problems  as  class,  race, 
and  national  rivalries  and  antagonisms,  poverty  and  dis- 
honesty, spiritual  unrest,  etc.? 

In   bringing  in   the  Kingdom,   is   the   Church  needed   today? 
Why,  or  why  not? 


95 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  TO  THE 
MEMBERS 

Daily  Readings 

If  the  Church,  then,  is  the  supreme  agency  for  bringing  in 
the  Kingdom,  what  opportunity  does  it  ofTer  for  individual 
service?  Is  there  a  place  only  for  a  few  specially  endowed 
individuals,  or  is  there  a  chance  for  everybody? 

First  Day  : 

For  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members, 
and  all  the  members  of  the  body,  being  many,  are 
one  body;  so  also  is  Christ.  For  in  one  Spirit  were 
we  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether  Jews  or 
Greeks,  whether  bond  or  free;  and  were  all  made 
to  drink  of  one  Spirit.  For  the  body  is  not  one 
member,  but  many.  If  the  foot  shall  say,  Because  I 
am  not  the  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body;  it  is  not 
therefore  not  of  the  body.  And  if  the  ear  shall  say, 
Because  I  am  not  the  eye,  I  am  not  of  the  body; 
it  is  not  therefore  not  of  the  body.  If  the  whole 
body  were  an  eye,  where  were  the  hearing?  If  the 
whole  were  hearing,  where  were  the  smelling?  But 
now  hath  God  set  the  members  each  one  of  them  in 
the  body,  even  as  it  pleased  him.  And  if  they  were 
all  one  member,  where  were  the  body?  But  now 
they  are  many  members,  but  one  body. — I  Cor.  12: 
12-20. 

The  Church  is  a  living  organism  pulsating  with  life.  It  is 
this  that  suggested  the  comparison  of  the  Church  to  the 
human  body.  The  Church  is  a  body  in  which  the  individuals 
are  mem.bers.     The  ideal  is  that  the  abilities  of  everyone  be 

96 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  [IX-2] 

utilized,  each  member  in  his  place  doing  the  work  for  which 
he  is  fitted. 

Has  the  idler  in  the  local  church  ever  really  looked  for 
something  to  do? 

Second  Day  : 

I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husband- 
man. Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he 
taketh  it  away :  and  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit, 
he  cleanseth  it,  that  it  may  bear  more  fruit.  Already 
ye  are  clean  because  of  the  word  which  I  have 
spoken  unto  you.  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As 
the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide 
in  the  vine;  so  neither  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me. 
I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches :  He  that  abideth  in 
me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  beareth  much  fruit: 
for  apart  from  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  If  a  man  abide 
not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  with- 
ered ;  and  they  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the 
fire,  and  they  are  burned.  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and 
my  words  abide  in  you,  ask  whatsoever  ye  will,  and 
it  shall  be  done  unto  you.  Herein  is  my  Father 
glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit ;  and  so  shall  ye 
be  my   disciples. — John    15:1-8. 

The  members  of  the  Church,  through  their  vital  unison 
with  Christ,  are  the  means  of  bringing  the  spirit  of  Christ 
to  bear  directly  on  the  life  of  humanity  in  errands  of  mercy 
and  in  promoting  righteousness,  justice,  and  peace.  For  this 
each  has  his  own  endowment,  his  own  place.  Gifts  differ, 
but  the  responsibihty  for  the  faithful  use  of  gifts  differs  not 
at  all. 

Think  over  the  various  talents  that  a  local  church  can  use 
to  advantage.     Are  there  any  that  could  not  be  used? 

Third  Day: 

Where   there   cannot   be    Greek   and   Jew,    circum- 
cision and  uncircumcision,  barbarian,  Scythian,  bond- 
man, freeman ;  but  Christ  is  all.  and  in  all. 
97 


[lX-4]       A   CHALLENGE   TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Put  on  therefore,  as  God's  elect,  holy  and  beloved, 
a  heart  of  compassion,  kindness,  lowliness,  meekness, 
longsuffering ;  forbearing  one  another,  and  forgiving 
each  other,  if  any  man  have  a  complaint  against  any ; 
even  as  the  Lord  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye :  and 
above  all  these  things  put  on  love,  which  is  the  bond 
of  perfectness.  And  let  the  peace  of  Christ  rule  in 
your  hearts,  to  the  which  also  ye  were  called  in  one 
body ;  and  be  ye  thankful.  Let  the  word  of  Christ 
dwell  in  you  richly;  in  all  wisdom  teaching  and  ad- 
monishing one  another  with  psalms  and  hymns  and 
spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts 
unto  God.  And  whatsoever  ye  do,  in  word  or  in 
deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving 
thanks  to  God  the  Father  through  him. — Col.  3:  11-17. 

"The  Church  is  first  of  all  a  worshipping  body.  She  sings 
praises  and  oflfers  prayers  unto  God.  She  glorifies  the  devo- 
tional life  and  trains  men  to  bow  their  heads  and  hearts 
before  the  King  of  Heaven."  "Worship  does  a  mighty  work. 
It  melts  the  hearts  of  men  together.  They  forget  their  differ- 
ences of  rank  and  culture  and  fortunes  when  they  repeat  the 
creed  or  bow  their  heads  in  prayer.  For  the  effacing  of  the 
lines  which  separate,  and  the  obliteration  of  the  barriers  which 
estrange,  there  is  an  immeasurable  potency  in  common  prayer. 
A  congregation  devoutly  engaged  in  worship  is  doing  some- 
thing for  the  community  which  cannot  be  done  in  any  other 
way.  It  is  a  collective  confession  of  Christ  which  outruns 
in  influence  the  confession  of  any  one  individual,  no  matter 
how  exalted"  (C.  E.  Jefferson,  "The  Building  of  the 
Church"). 

How  essential  is  worship  for  a  growing  Christian  lifef 

Fourth  Day  : 

Then  cometh  Jesus  from  Galilee  to  the  Jordan 
unto  John,  to  be  baptized  of  him.  But  John  would 
have  hindered  him,  saying,  I  have  need  to  be  baptized 
of  thee,  and  comest  thou  to  me?  But  Jesus  answer- 
ing said  unto  him,  Suffer  it  now :  for  thus  it  becometh 
98 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMOXS  [IX-5] 

us  to  fulfil,  all  righteousness.  Then  he  suffereth  him. 
And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  up  straight- 
way from  the  water :  and  lo,  the  heavens  were  opened 
unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of  God  descending  as 
a  dove,  and  coming  upon  him ;  and  lo,  a  voice  out 
of  the  heavens,  saying.  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased. — Matt.  3 :  13-17. 

For  I  received  of  the  Lord  that  which  also  I 
delivered  unto  you,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  night 
in  which  he  was  betrayed  took  bread;  and  when  he 
had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said.  This  is  my 
body,  which  is  for  you :  this  do  in  remembrance  of 
me.  In  like  manner  also  the  cup,  after  supper,  saying, 
This  cup  is  the  new  covenant  in  my  blood :  this  do, 
as  often  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me.  For 
as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  the  cup,  ye 
proclaim  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. — I  Cor.  11: 
23-26. 

These  two  beautifully  simple  sacraments  of  the  Church — 
Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper — continue  to  bind  us  together 
as  one  in  Christ  with  fellow  Christians  in  all  ages  and  all 
communions,  and  bring  us  into  spiritual  fellowship  with  the 
holiest  of  our  race. 

Fifth  Day:  The  Church,  from  its  very  earliest  days,  has 
offered  the  opportunity  for  the  expression  of  brotherhood. 


Finally,  be  ye  all  likeminded,  compassionate,  loving 
brethren,   tenderhearted,   humbleminded. — I    Peter 


Seeing  ye  have  purified  your  souls  in  your  obedi- 
ence to  the  truth  unto  unfeigned  love  of  the  brethren, 
love  one  another  from  the  heart  fervently. — I  Peter 
1 :  22. 

Marvel  not,  brethren,  if  the  world  hateth  you.    We 

know   that   we   have   passed   out   of   death   into   life, 

because  we  love  the  brethren.     He   that  loveth   not 

abideth  in  death.     Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is 

99 


[IX-6]       A   CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

a  murderer:  and  ye  know  that  no  murderer  hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him.  Hereby  know  we  love, 
because  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us :  and  we  ought 
to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren.  But  whoso 
hath  the  world's  goods,  and  beholdeth  his  brother  in 
need,  and  shutteth  up  his  compassion  from  him,  how 
doth  the  love  of  God  abide  in  him? — I  John  3:  13-17. 

But  concerning  love  of  the  brethren  ye  have  no 
need  that  one  write  unto  you :  for  ye  yourselves  are 
taught  of  God  to  love  one  another;  for  indeed  ye  do 
it  toward  all  the  brethren  that  are  in  all  Macedonia. 
But  we  exhort  you,  brethren,  that  ye  abound  more 
and  more. — I  Thess.  4  :  9,  10. 

Time  and  again  the  disciples  emphasize  the  fact  that  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  are  brothers,  that  the  spirit  of  brotherhood 
must  characterize  the  Church  of  Christ.  "Above  all  things," 
sa3's  Peter,  "be  fervent  in  your  love  among  yourselves.  Honor 
all  men.    Love  the  brotherhood," 

What  are  the  essential  characteristics  of  a  brotherhood? 
What  peculiar  opportunity  docs  the  Church  offer  to  each  one 
of  us  for  the  expression  of  hrotherlinessf 

Sixth  Day  :  From  the  very  beginning  the  Christian  Church 
lived  for  others.  "The  Church  at  the  outset  was  a  missionary 
society.  .  .  .  The  Church  was  established  to  spread  Chris- 
tianity and  to  conserve  it  in  the  only  way  in  which  living 
things  can  ever  be  conserved,  by  living  action"  (R.  E.  Speer). 

But  ye  shall  receive  power,  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
is  come  upon  you :  and  ye  shall  be  my  witnesses  both 
in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judaea  and  Samaria,  and  unto 
the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth. — Acts   1:8. 

And  that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be 
preached  in  his  name  unto  all  the  nations,  beginning 
from  Jerusalem.  Ye  are  witnesses  of  these  things. 
Luke  24  :  47,  48. 

100 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  [IX-7] 

To  what  extent  has  the  Church  maintained  this  early  ideal? 
What  is  the  "missionary  spirit"? 

Seventh  Day:  The  Christian  Church  claims  our  allegiance 
today  because  of  its  ideals  and  because  of  its  record — of  both 
she  may  well  be  proud. 

And  the  report  concerning  them  came  to  the  ears 
of  the  church  which  was  in  Jerusalem:  and  they 
sent  forth  Barnabas  as  far  as  Antioch :  who,  when 
he  was  come,  and  had  seen  the  grace  of  God,  was 
glad;  and  he  exhorted  them  all,  that  with  purpose 
of  heart  they  would  cleave  unto  the  Lord:  for  he  was 
a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  of  faith : 
and  much  people  was  added  unto  the  Lord.  And  he 
went  forth  to  Tarsus  to  seek  for  Saul ;  and  when  he 
had  found  him,  he  brought  him  unto  Antioch,  And 
it  came  to  pass,  that  even  for  a  whole  year  they  were 
gathered  together  with  the  church,  and  taught  much 
people;  and  that  the  disciples  were  called  Christians 
first  in  Antioch. — Acts  1 1 :  22-26. 

So  the  church  throughout  all  Judaea  and  Galilee 
and  Samaria  had  peace,  being  edified;  and,  walking 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and  in  the  comfort  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  was  multiplied. — Acts  9:31. 

And  as  they  w^ent  on  their  way  through  the  cities, 
they  delivered  them  the  decrees  to  keep  which  had 
been  ordained  of  the  apostles  and  elders  that  were  at 
Jerusalem.  So  the  churches  were  strengthened  in  the 
faith,  and  increased  in  number  daily. — Acts  16:4,5. 

"Here*  we  have  an  institution  to  which  some  of  the  best 
minds  and  noblest  hearts  in  history  have  gladly  given  the 
service  of  their  lives — Augustine  and  Origen,  Francis  of 
Assisi  and  Thomas  a  Kempis,  Savonarola  and  Alartin  Luther, 
John  Knox  and  John  Wesley,  Jonathan  Edwards  and  Charles 
G.  Finney,  Horace  Bushnell  and  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 
Dwight  L.  Moody  and  PhilHps  Brooks !  Here  we  have  an 
institution  which,   with   all  its   faults,   has  stood  through  the 

101 


[IX-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

ages  for  'the  struggle  of  the  spiritual  against  the  physical,  of 
faith  against  force,  of  the  poor  and  obscure  against  their 
haughty  oppressors,  of  that  which  is  founded  in  the  divine 
order  against  that  which  springs  from  human  self-will !' 
Here  we  have  an  institution  which  at  this  hour  is  more  openly 
pledged  to  the  highest  spiritual  ideals  and  more  steadily 
engaged  in  urging  them  upon  the  people  than  any  other 
institution  on  earth"  (C.  R.  Brown,  "The  Main  Points"). 

What  challenge  does  the  Church  bring  to  students  today? 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

As  a  great  democratic  organization  with  a  dominant  ideal 
of  human  welfare  and  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of 
God,  the  Church  demands  the  earnest  consideration  of  every 
man  and  woman  who  is  seeking  in  any  way  to  make  a  contri- 
bution to  the  larger  life  of  America  and  the  world.  To  those 
who  recognize  the  value  of  the  spiritual  and  the  benefits  of 
human  fellowship,  the  Church  will  increasingly  become  the 
place  for  the  renewing  of  the  spirit  and  the  deepening  and 
enriching  of  those  personal  and  individual  characteristics  that 
make  for  character,  peace,  and  power.  To  the  men  and 
women  who  have  heard  Jesus'  challenge  to  service,  there  is 
every  reason  for  loyalty  to  the  Church,  the  means  by  which 
His  life  and  work  are  continued  in  the  world. 

"The  men  of  our  day  need  the  Church  for  worship,  for 
character,  and  for  fellowship,  li  the  great  conviction  of  our 
generation  is  that  men  cannot  live  to  themselves  alone, 
politically,  economically,  socially,  truly  this  conviction  should 
apply  on  the  highest  level  of  our  life,  that  which  deals  with 
character  and  destiny — the  spiritual  life.  Men  need  the 
Church  today  likewise  in  order  that  they  may  better  serve 
and  better  witness  and  better  extend  their  influence.  ...  It 
is  an  unselfish  institution.  Men  need  the  Church  in  these 
days  in  order  that  they  may  make  the  largest  possible  invest- 
ment   of   their   power.      The    Christian    Church   is    the   great 

102 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  [IX-s] 

world  institution  for  the  dissemination  of  the  spirit  and  life 
of  Christ  among  men.  To  men  who  want  opportunities  that 
will  call  out  the  best  part  of  their  minds  and  hearts,  they 
will  find  these  larger  reaches  of  opportunities  within  the 
sphere  of  those  opportunities  generated  and  fostered  by  the 
Christian   Church." 

II 

The  Church  today  makes  a  twofold  challenge  to  college  men 
and  women ;  it  is  the  great  source  of  inspiration  and  power, 
it  offers  wide  opportunity  for  service.  In  facing  the  problems 
of  the  modern  world  the  Church,  as  never  before,  is  ready 
to  use  every  member,  to  give  opportunities  of  service  to  men 
and  women  of  the  very  best  training  and  widest  sympathy. 

Xerxes,  when  at  the  Hellespont  with  his  army  of  a  million 
and  a  half  men,  cried,  "I  would  I  had  as  many  soldiers  as 
men."  The  Church  is  not  interested  in  mere  numbers ;  today 
it  wants  men  and  women  who  count,  not  merely  those  who 
are  counted.  The  future  possibilities  of  the  Church  are 
vast  and  far-reaching ;  the  forces  arrayed  against  the  Church 
are  powerful  and  aggressive.  But  if  those  who  have  seen 
the  vision  of  the  coming  Kingdom  and  are  endowed  with 
faith,  courage,  and  conviction,  give  themselves  in  whole- 
hearted service  to  the  Church,  there  will  be  a  glorious 
triumph  in  the  fight  for  human  rights,  human  justice,  and 
human  brotherhood. 

Ill 

What,  then,  are  the  real  openings  for  the  indizHdual 
members? 

Have  we  ever  even  half-way  met  our  tremendous  oppor- 
tunity for  influencing  boys  and  girls  in  connection  with  the 
work  of  the  Church?  It  was  just  a  plain  layman,  Robert 
Raikes,  a  Gloucester  printer,  who  in  1780  saw  a  great  un- 
touched field.  He  gathered  a  few  children  and  began  to 
instruct  them  in  cleanliness,  in  the  elements  of  education,  and 
in    the    Christian    religion.      In    these    little    dirty,    neglected 

103 


[IX-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

children,  with  the  pitiable  slum  look  on  their  faces,  living  in 
vice  and  ignorance,  Robert  Raikes  saw  an  opportunity  and  a 
duty,  A  voice  within  him  said,  "Try."  "And  I  did  try,"  he 
says.  And  the  experiment  which  now  looks  so  simple  and  so 
humble  has  resulted  today  in  millions  of  girls  and  boys  and 
older  people  in  the  Sunday  Schools  of  the  world. 

How  much  greater  is  the  opportunity  today !  With  the 
modern  equipment  and  methods  in  the  Sunday  School,  the 
intelligent  college  man  or  woman  finds  at  hand  a  most  effec- 
tive means  for  building  character  and  serving  the  Church. 
Along  with  this  are  all  the  possibilities  of  leadership  in  boys' 
and  girls'  clubs,  scout  troops,  girls'  camp  fires,  young  people's 
societies,  and  similar  organizations.  A  college  student,  now 
a  medical  missionary  in  China,  returned  to  his  little  home 
town  at  the  end  of  his  junior  year  and  went  to  the  pastor 
of  the  church  and  asked  for  something  to  do.  The  pastor 
pointed  to  the  boys  of  the  community,  and  this  young  man 
gave  his  summer  to  these  boys,  organizing  them  into  a  club 
and  leaving  an  influence  upon  that  community  that  has  lasted 
for  fifteen  years.  The  Church's  approach  to  boys  and  girls 
is  so  flexible  that  any  individual  can  find  opportunity  for 
expressing  the  type  of  helpfulness  for  which  he  is  particularly 
qualified. 

Have  we  ever  realized  what  an  opportunity  there  is  in  a 
church  for  comradeship  in  life  and  service  with  those  of  like 
aspirations?  The  men's  brotherhoods,  the  adult  Bible  class, 
and  similar  adult  organizations,  have  provided  opportunity  not 
only  for  winning  others  to  the  ideals  of  the  Kingdom  and 
loyalty  to  the  Church,  but  for  influencing  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity for  righteousness  in  a  variety  of  ways.  Only  very  few 
of  us  have  realized  the  power  that  may  be  exerted  by  a  local 
church,  or  several  churches  working  together,  in  righting 
community  wrongs. 

But  the  influence  of  the  Church  has  not  ended  with  those 
who  work  in  its  own  organized  activities.  Directly  and  in- 
directly the  Church  has  inspired  many  of  its  workers  to  find 
openings  for  voluntary  service  in  the  interdenominational  and 

104 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  [IX-s] 

other  agencies  that  exist  in  the  interests  of  philanthropy, 
reform,  temperance,  and  missions.  For  instance,  the  Epworth 
Methodist  Church  of  Cleveland  at  one  time  reported  that 
it  was  in  definite  affiliation  through  salaried  and  volunteer 
workers  with  forty-one  civic  and  charitable  organizations  of 
the  city,  and  was  represented  by  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
workers.  Perchance  we  may  be  needed  in  one  of  these  out- 
posts, but  the  vitality  of  our  service  depends  upon  being 
directly  and  continuously  connected  with  the  inspiration  of  the 
Church. 

And  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  maintenance  of  the 
regular  meetings,  activities,  and  societies  of  a  local  church, 
necessary  to  the  permanence  of  vitality  of  its  life  and  influ- 
ence, calls  for  a  large  number  of  men  and  women  of  the 
greatest  variety  of  talent.  It  may  be  that  we  shall  find  our 
great  opportunity  as  church  members  in  these  activities. 

From  the  days  of  Dorcas  of  Joppa  until  now,  the  part  of 
women  in  the  work  of  the  Church  has  been  a  large  one. 
Beginning  with  little  groups  banded  together  to  minister  to 
the  poor  and  needy  of  their  own  communities,  women's  work 
for  women  and  children  has  reached  out  into  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth.  The  college  girl  who  on  her  return  to 
her  home  allies  herself  with  the  women's  work  of  her 
church,  will  have  an  opportunity  not  only  to  serve  those  who 
need  help  in  her  own  community,  but  also  to  reach  out  to 
faraway  lands  where  opportunities  and  needs  are  greatest 
today  and  helpers  are  fewest. 

Are  we  as  church  members  interested  in  making  our  gifts 
count?  There  is  no  agency  outside  the  Church  through  which 
gifts  of  money  can  touch  so  wisely  and  effectively  the  life  of 
the  world.  Think  what  is  comprehended  in  the  so-called 
"benevolences"  of  the  Church — missionary  activities  on  every 
continent;  direct  help  to  immigrants,  backward  races,  and 
frontier  communities ;  hospitals,  homes  for  the  aged  and  in- 
firm, orphan  asylums,  and  other  philanthropies ;  educational 
work  in  every  part  of  the  world;  and  constructive  social 
work  of  very  wide  range. 

105 


[IX-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

In  the  social  service  program  of  the  Church,  in  the  home 
and  foreign  missionary  enterprises,  there  is  wide  opportunity 
for  a  display  of  high  courage,  adventuring  faith  and  heroic 
devotion  of  talents  and  life.  It  has  been  said  that  "the 
evangelization  of  the  world  in  this  generation"  is  one  of  the 
most  sublime  thoughts  which  have  come  to  the  race,  and 
certainly  it  is  a  fitting  slogan  for  the  mihtant  Church  of 
the  Living  God. 

When  true  members  in  the  Church  join  in  private  or  public 
prayer,  their  petitions  and  their  sympathies  comprehend  every 
need — local,  national,  international,  and  world-wide.  The 
whole  influence  of  the  Church  is  against  provincialism  and 
selfishness  before  men  and  before  God ;  every  need  of  men 
in  every  part  of  the  world  is  included  in  the  program  of  the 
Church. 

IV 

Christians  long  ago  discovered  that  if  they  are  to  remain 
true  to  the  ideals  of  the  Kingdom  in  the  strain  and  stress  of 
everyday  life,  if  they  are  to  keep  up  their  enthusiasm,  hope, 
and  strength  in  their  voluntary  service,  they  must  have  the 
fellowship  and  friendship  in  the  Church  of  those  who  are 
loyally  working  for  the  same  great  Cause;  they  must  have 
the  teaching  that  makes  clear  the  full  meaning  of  Chris- 
tianity; they  must  have  that  peculiar  inspiration  and  power 
from  God  Himself  experienced  so  wonderfully  through  the 
medium  of  public  worship. 

V 

Can  anyone  find  in  the  average  community  a  better  way  to 
serve  the  Kingdom  than  by  allying  himself  with  the  local 
church? 

Sometimes  a  church  seems  a  very  inadequate  agency  through 
which  a  college  man  or  woman  can  make  a  contribution  to 
community  betterment  and  human  welfare.  But  have  we 
ever    realized    how    readily    responsive    to    leadership    is    any 

106 


THE  CHURCH'S  SUMMONS  [IX-s] 

church,  and  just  how  much  one  individual  can  do?  No 
matter  how  backward  a  church  may  be,  a  willing,  tactful 
member  can  find  much  to  do.  In  any  case,  the  Church,  in  the 
last  analysis,  is  what  the  members  make  it;  and  has  the  college 
student,  with  his  larger  opportunity  and  better  training,  any 
right  to  criticize  unless  he  is  really  working  to  help  make  the 
Church  efficient?  Indeed,  he  probably  will  find  in  any  com- 
munity the  greatest  possibilities  for  useful  and  continuous 
service  in  connection  with  the  local  church. 

Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

//  a  person  is  going  to  do  his  most  effective  work  in  bringing 
in  the  Kingdom,  must  he  ally  himself  with  a  church? 
Why,  or  why  not? 

What  opportunities  does  a  church  offer  for  Kingdom  service? 

In  what  ways  can  the  young  people  of  a  community  be 
helped  through  the  church? 

How  can  a  church  be  used  to  help  right  community  wrongs  ? 

Enumerate  the  persons  needed  to  maintain  the  regular 
church  activities  and  societies.  Which  of  these  posts  offer 
worth-while  opportunities  of  service? 

In  giving  money  for  altruistic  purposes,  through  what 
organization  can  you  touch  most  widely  and  effectively  the 
life  of  the  world? 

Why  does  alliance  with  a  church  tend  against  provincialism? 

Is  there  any  talent  which  cannot  be  used  in  the  church? 

What  chance  does  a  church  give  to  help  the  life  of  a  com- 
munity? 

In  working  for  a  community  reform,  does  alliance  with  the 
church  offer  the  best  method?  If  not,  how  would  it  best 
be  done? 

How  far  do  the  backwardness  and  inefficiency  of  a  local 
church  destroy  the  possibility  of   working  through  it? 

What  responsibility  to  a  church  has  an  individual  member? 


107 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  FOR 
LEADERSHIP 

Daily  Readings 

The  Christian  Church  is  the  one  institution  in  the  world 
today  whose  supreme  interest  is  the  advancement  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God,  and  so  in  a  very  real  way  the  progress  of 
human  welfare  and  the  realization  of  brotherhood  depend 
upon  the  Church.  It  is  imperative  that  the  Church  should 
at  all  times  have  a  sufficient  number  of  fully  trained,  well 
qualified  leaders  so  that  she  may  faithfully  and  adequately 
accomplish  the  task  to  which  she  has  been  divinely  appointed. 

First  Day: 

For,  Whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  saved.  How  then  shall  they  call  on  him 
in  whom  they  have  not  believed?  and  how  shall  they 
believe  in  him  whom  they  have  not  heard?  and  how 
shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher?  and  how  shall 
they  preach,  except  they  be  sent?  even  as  it  is  written. 
How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  bring  glad 
tidings  of  good  things! — Romans  lo:  13-15. 

"I  have  been  in  the  Christian  ministry  for  over  twenty 
3'ears.  I  love  my  calling.  I  have  a  glowing  delight  in  its 
services.  I  am  conscious  of  no  distractions  in  the  shape  of 
any  competitors  for  my  strength  and  allegiance.  I  have 
had  but  one  passion,  and  I  have  lived  for  it — the  absorbingly 
arduous,  yet  glorious  work  of  proclaiming  the  grace  and  love 
of  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ"  (J.  H.  Jowett,  'The  Preacher, 
His   Life  and  Work"). 

108 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-2] 

Second  Day  :  The  minister  of  the  Church  of  the  living  God 
is  an  administrator,  pastor,  teacher,  priest,  and  prophet,  but 
always  and  everywhere  he  is  a  master  builder,  a  builder  of 
character  in  the  individual  and  a  constructive  force  in  the 
great  fabric  of  human  society.  "What  the  world  owes  to  the 
example  of  Savonarola,  to  the  constructive  thinking  of  Calvin, 
and  to  the  statesmanship  of  Knox,  can  never  be  told.  Thanks 
to  them,  and  to  others  whom  I  cannot  stay  to  commemorate, 
we  have  come  to  hold  that  the  ideal  State  is  as  much  a  fruit 
of  the  Gospel  as  the  ideal  Church.  An}'  errors  they  may 
have  committed  are  far  more  than  compensated  for  by  the 
priceless  witness  which  they  bore  to  the  sovereignty  of  Christ 
over  all  mundane  affairs.  Of  course  they  were  bufteted  and 
bruised,  as  all  must  be  who  descend  into  the  arena.  Of 
course  they  tasted  to  the  full  the  reproaches,  calumnies,  and 
cruelties  of  those  who  repudiate  the  authority  of  the  Chris- 
tian preacher,  save  in  matters  of  abstract  faith  alone.  But 
I  do  not  imagine  that  if  they  had  their  lives  to  live  over 
again,  and  knew  quite  well  the  sufiferings  and  disappoint- 
ments that  awaited  them,  they  would  choose  differently.  For 
there  is,  as  Carlyle  said,  no  victory  but  by  battle.  There  is 
no  crown  but  by  the  cross.  There  is  no  triumph  for  the 
preacher  save  as  he  pledges  himself  to  the  Kingdom  of  God, 
and  makes  himself  the  willing  instrument  of  that  resistless 
Will  which  shall  yet,  in  obedience  to  our  Master's  prayer,  be 
done  on  earth  as  it  is  done  in  heaven"  (C.  Silvester  Home, 
"The  Romance  of  Preaching"). 

Third  Day: 

In  the  year  that  King  Uzziah  died  I  saw  the  Lord 
sitting  upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up;  and  his 
train  filled  the  temple.  Above  him  stood  the  sera- 
phim :  each  one  had  six  wings ;  with  twain  he  covered 
his  face,  and  with  twain  he  covered  his  feet,  and 
with  twain  he  did  fly.  And  one  cried  unto  another, 
and  said.  Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  Jehovah  of  hosts:  the 
whole  earth  is  full  of  his  glory.  And  the  foundations 
of  the  thresholds  shook  at  the  voice  of  him  that  cried, 
109 


[X-4]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

and  the  house  was  filled  with  smoke.  Then  said  I, 
Woe  is  me !  for  I  am  undone ;  because  I  am  a  man 
of  unclean  lips,  and  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people 
of  unclean  lips :  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King, 
Jehovah  of  hosts. 

Then  flew  one  of  the  seraphim  unto  me,  having  a 
live  coal  in  his  hand,  which  he  had  taken  with  the 
tongs  from  off  the  altar :  and  he  touched  my  mouth 
with  it,  and  said,  Lo,  this  hath  touched  thy  lips ;  and 
thine  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  thy  sin  forgiven. 
And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Whom 
shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us?  Then  I  said, 
Here  am  I;  send  me. — Is.  6:  i-8. 

To  the  young  Isaiah,  worshipping  in  the  temple,  there  came 
an  overwhelming  consciousness  of  God's  presence,  of  God's 
greatness  and  holiness,  and  at  the  same  time  a  knowledge 
of  the  desperate  spiritual  and  moral  need  of  his  people.  It 
was  this  vision  of  God's  infinite  love  and  tenderness,  and  this 
heart-ache  because  of  the  cry  of  the  needy  and  despised, 
that  voiced  and  made  real  to  Isaiah  God's  call  to  him.  The 
response  was  immediate  and  eager,  "Here  am  I ;  send  me." 
"God  does  not  want  any  conscripts.  If  that  is  what  j'^ou  are 
waiting  for,  to  be  conscripted,  I  do  not  believe  the  call  will 
come.  He  wants  volunteers,  men  who  will  give  themselves 
in  the  spirit  of  Isaiah,  'Here  am  I;  send  me'"  (R.  E.  Speer). 

Fourth  Day: 

Of  the  Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save 
one.  Thrice  was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I 
stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a 
day  have  I  been  in  the  deep;  in  journeyings  often, 
in  perils  of  rivers,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  from 
my  countrymen,  in  perils  from  the  Gentiles,  in  perils 
in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in 
the  sea,  in  perils  among  false  brethren ;  in  labor  and 
travail,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in 
fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness.  Besides  those 
things  that  are  without,  there  is  that  which  presseth 
110 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-5] 

upon  me  daily,  anxiety  for  all  the  churches.  Who  is 
weak,  and  I  am  not  weak?  who  is  caused  to  stumble, 
and  I  burn  not?— II  Cor.  11 :  24-29. 

"I  was  not  disobedient  to  the  heavenly  vision."  Here  is  a 
man.  Organizer  and  administrator  of  churches,  forcible 
preacher,  convincing  teacher,  voluminous  writer,  and  tireless 
missionary,  all  this  together  with  his  wonderful  genius  for 
friendship,  made  Paul  one  of  the  greatest  characters  in  all 
history.  It  was  Paul,  Christian  preacher  and  missionary,  who 
first  introduced  to  Europe  and  the  Gentile  world  the  Chris- 
tian rehgion.  And  today  Paul's  personality  and  the  power 
and  vigor  of  his  mind  rest  upon  the  Western  world  as  those 
of  no  other  man  in  all  its  history. 

Fifth  Day  : 

And  Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities  and  the  villages, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  disease 
and  all  manner  of  sickness.  But  when  he  saw  the 
multitudes,  he  was  moved  with  compassion  for  them, 
because  they  were  distressed  and  scattered,  as  sheep 
not  having  a  shepherd.  Then  saith  he  unto  his 
disciples,  The  harvest  indeed  is  plenteous,  but  the 
laborers  are  few.  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest,  that  he  send  forth  laborers  into  his  har- 
vest.—Matt.  9:35-38. 

Jesus  was  primarily  a  great  preacher.  He  was  at  once  the 
message  and  the  messenger  of  salvation  and  world  redemp- 
tion. From  His  time  down  to  our  own  day  a  noble  company 
of  Christian  ministers  have  followed  in  His  steps,  going  forth 
into  all  the  world  with  the  message  and  spirit  of  their  Master. 
"Think  of  the  procession  of  the  preachers !  No  range  of 
mountains  has  been  high  enough  to  stay  their  progress ;  no 
rivers  deep  and  broad  enough  to  daunt  them ;  no  forests  dark 
and  dense  enough  to  withstand  their  advance.  .  .  .  Wherever 
they  went  the}'  trod  a  pilgrim  road,   and  flung  forth  their 

111 


IX-6]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

faith,  often  to  a  sceptical  and  scornful  generation.  But  what 
heeded  they?  They  passed  onward  from  frontier  to  frontier, 
'the  legion  that  never  was  counted,'  and,  let  us  add,  that  never 
knew  defeat"  (C.  Silvester  Home,  "The  Romance  of  Preach- 
ing"). 

Sixth  Day  :  The  minister  as  pastor  is  a  friend  of  his  people. 
Notice  the  spirit  of  Paul's  letter. 

Salute  Prisca  and  Aquila  my  fellow-workers  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  for  my  life  laid  down  their  own 
necks ;  unto  whom  not  only  I  give  thanks,  but  also 
all  the  churches  of  the  Gentiles :  and  salute  the 
church  that  is  in  their  house.  Salute  Epaenetus  my 
beloved,  who  is  the  first-fruits  of  Asia  unto  Christ. 
Salute  Mary,  who  bestowed  much  labor  on  you. 
Salute  Andronicus  and  Junias,  my  kinsmen,  and  my 
fellow-prisoners,  who  are  of  note  among  the  apostles, 
who  also  have  been  in  Christ  before  me.  Salute 
Ampliatus  my  beloved  in  the  Lord.  Salute  Urbanus 
our  fellow-worker  in  Christ,  and  Stachys  my  beloved. 
Salute  Apelles  the  approved  in  Christ.  Salute  them 
that  are  of  the  household  of  Aristobulus.  Salute 
Herodion  my  kinsman.  Salute  them  of  the  house- 
hold of  Narcissus,  that  are  in  the  Lord.  Salute 
Tryphaena  and  Tryphosa,  who  labor  in  the  Lord, 
Salute  Persis  the  beloved,  who  labored  much  in 
the  Lord.  Salute  Rufus  the  chosen  in  the  Lord,  and 
his  mother  and  mine.  Salute  Asyncritus,  Phlegon, 
Hermes,  Patrobas,  Hermas,  and  the  brethren  that 
are  with  them.  Salute  Philologus  and  Julia,  Nereus 
and  his  sister,  and  Olympas,  and  all  the  saints  that 
are  with  them. 

Timothy  my  fellow-worker  saluteth  you ;  and  Lucius 
and  Jason  and  Sosipater,  my  kinsmen.  I  Tertius, 
who  write  the  epistle,  salute  you  in  the  Lord.  Gaius 
my  host,  and  of  the  whole  church,  saluteth  you. 
Erastus  the  treasurer  of  the  city  saluteth  you,  and 
Quartus  the  brother. — Romans  16:3-15,  21-23. 

This  is  at  once  the  minister's  opportunity  and  reward. 
112 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-7] 

Seventh  Day: 

Whereof  I  was  made  a  minister,  according  to  the 
gift  of  that  grace  of  God  which  was  given  me  accord- 
ing to  the  working  of  his  power.  Unto  me,  who  am 
less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  was  this  grace  given, 
to  preach  unto  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ;  and  to  make  all  men  see  what  is  the  dis- 
pensation of  the  mystery  which  for  ages  hath  been 
hid  in  God  who  created  all  things ;  to  the  intent  that 
now  unto  the  principalities  and  the  powers  in  the 
heavenly  places  might  be  made  known  through  the 
church  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God,  according  to  the 
eternal  purpose  which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord :  in  whom  we  have  boldness  and  access  in 
confidence  through   our   faith   in   him. — Eph.  3 :  7-12. 

I  charge  thee  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  of  Christ 
Jesus,  who  shall  judge  the  living  and  the  dead,  and 
by  his  appearing  and  his  kingdom :  preach  the  word ; 
be  urgent  in  season,  out  of  season ;  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort,  with  all  longsuffering  and  teaching.  But  be 
thou  sober  in  all  things,  suffer  hardship,  do  the  work 
of  an  evangelist,  fulfil  thy  ministry.  For  I  am 
already  being  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure 
is  come.  I  have  fought  the  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
the  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith :  henceforth  there 
is  laid  up  for  me  the  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  to  me  at 
that  day ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  also  to  all  them  that 
have  loved  his  appearing. — II  Tim.  4 :  i,  2,  5-8. 

The  minister  is  a  prophet  of  God,  that  is,  a  man  who  speaks 
for  God.  His  life  work  is  to  interpret  God  to  men  and  make 
the  spiritual  real  and  vital  in  the  hfe  of  the  individual  and 
society.  As  a  prophet  the  minister  is  primarily  a  preacher  of 
righteousness  and  the  good  news  of  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
"Some  trades  and  professions,  it  is  clear,  will  die  out  as  the 
Kingdom  of  God  comes  to  its  own.  But  for  every  voice  that 
carries  inspiration  to  its  fellows ;  for  every  soul  that  has  some 
authentic   word    from   the    Eternal    wherewith   to    guide    and 

113 


[X-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

bless  mankind,  there  will  always  be  a  welcome.  No  changes 
of  the  future  can  cancel  the  commission  of  the  preacher.  He 
does  not  hold  that  commission  from  any  human  society. 
He  is  the  servant  of  the  Spirit"  ("The  Romance  of  Preach- 
ing," p.  21). 

Study  for  the  Week 


The  demand  today  is  more  urgent  than  ever  before  for 
strong  men  with  a  personal  experience  of  God  in  their  lives, 
for  the  ministerial  leadership  of  the  Church  at  home  and 
abroad. 

In  the  intellectual  unrest  and  ferment  of  our  times  men 
are  needed  in  the  ministry  who  can  think  straight  on  the 
great  fundamentals  of  life  and  can  speak  intelligently  to  those 
in  intellectual  difficulty  concerning  religious  subjects.  Men 
of  vision  and  widest  human  sympathy  and  understanding  are 
needed  to  lead  the  Church  as  she  faces  the  social  problem 
in  all  the  complexity  of  modern  industry,  human  need,  selfish- 
ness, and  sin.  Men  of  outstanding  personality  and  conquer- 
ing spirit  are  needed  to  occupy  the  pulpits  in  those  great 
centers  of  population  and  dire  need — the  great  cities  in  every 
part  of  the  world.  And  men  of  patience,  persistence,  and 
creative  ability  are  needed  to  man  the  churches  in  the  smaller 
communities  and  rural  districts  from  which  come  such  a 
disproportionate  share  of  leaders  in  Church  and  State.  The 
times  wait  for  Christian  leaders  of  large  mold,  catholicity  of 
mind,  and  spiritual  insight,  who,  as  apostles  of  unity,  will 
greatly  accelerate  the  movements  that  make  for  larger 
cooperation  and  closer  unity  in  the  different  communions  of 
the  Christian  Church.  The  Church  needs  empire  builders 
who  will  lead  in  facing  these  great  responsibilities  throughout 
the  world. 

Such  is  the  size  and  importance  of  the  Church's  task.  No 
real  human  need  is  outside  the  limits  of  its  interest  and 
duty;   therefore,    as   an   institution,    the   Church   has   had   to 

114 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-s] 

develop  an  organization  at  once  complex  and  flexible,  at  once 
vital  and  efficient.  Good  intentions  are  not  enough.  Unregu- 
lated spiritualit}',  mere  pious  enthusiasm,  is  helpless  in  the 
face  of  these  modern  problems  ;  while  sim.ple  barren  efficiency, 
divorced  from  a  conquering  passion  for  humanity,  is  very 
liable  to  end  in  the  creation  of  a  huge  system  of  wheels 
whose  only  purpose  is  ''to  go  'round."  Therefore,  to  say 
the  Church  needs  leaders  is  simply  to  recognize  that  it  is 
a  large  and  complex  organization ;  but  to  maintain  that  it 
needs  leaders  of  such  peculiar  breadth  of  vision,  thorough- 
ness of  training,  and  inflexibility  of  purpose — men  at  the 
same  time  deeply  spiritual  and  keenly  efficient — is  to  realize 
the  whole  splendor  and  daring  of  this  enterprise  upon  which 
the  Church  is  embarked.  The  Christian  minister  occupies  a 
central  place  in  the  present-day  enterprise  of  the  Kingdom. 
That  leaders  from  the  ranks  of  the  membership  have  lately 
directed  with  conspicuous  skill  not  only  certain  local  church 
activities,  but  great  national  and  international  movements, 
only  doubles  the  demand  upon  the  minister ;  for  he  must  now, 
indeed,  be  a  leader  of  leaders. 

Who  can  hope  fully  to  measure  up  to  this  great  opportunity? 

II 
Consider  the  tremendous  opportunity'  and  the  heavy 
responsibility  that  lies  upon  the  Christian  minister  as  the 
proclaimer  of  God's  truth  to  the  people.  Bound  by  necessity 
to  deal  constantly  with  material  things  in  a  daily  life  where 
it  is  hard  to  practice  the  principles  of  Jesus,  men  and  women 
turn  to  the  minister  for  an  understanding  of  the  spiritual 
significance  of  it  all,  of  the  deep  meaning  that  underhes  the 
perplexities  of  life.  They  must  be  busy  with  many  things; 
he  is  set  aside  to  fix  his  attention  on  God's  age-long  revela- 
tion of  Himself  to  man.  They  look  to  hiyn  to  interpret  the 
will  of  God  to  them.  He  has  an  opportunity  second  to  none 
in  bringing  to  young  and  old  the  principles  of  ethics  and 
religion,  and  so  building  the  foundation  of  character  and 
conduct. 

115 


[X-s]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

The  minister  speaks  not  for  himself.  He  is  not  called 
upon  to  create  a  little  philosophy  of  his  own  to  be  tagged 
with  his  name — and  to  live  perhaps  for  a  day.  He  is  in  a 
long  and  noble  Hne  of  those  who,  for  nineteen  centuries, 
have  preached  the  Gospel  of  Christ  for  the  salvation  of 
mankind.  No  blind  defender  of  tradition  he,  but  one  who 
interprets  and  reinterprets  the  whole  spiritual  experience  of 
the  race  in  the  terms  of  the  bustling  times  in  which  we  live. 
He  is  a  master  specialist  in  the  great  fundamental  truths  of 
God  and  human  needs  and  relationships. 

Ever  and  again  he  is  called  upon  suddenly  to  become 
prophet,  and  blaze  out  against  the  wrong  that  he  sees  and 
feels,  and  sternly  call  the  people  to  righteousness.  Every 
great  movement  for  righteousness  has  begun  with  some 
prophet  who  speaks  forth  the  mind  of  God.  Peter  at  Jeru- 
salem, Paul  at  Ephesus,  Augustine  at  Rome,  Savonarola  in 
Florence,  Chrysostom  at  Constantinople,  Luther  at  Erfurt, 
Wesley  and  Whitefield  in  England,  Spurgeon  in  London, 
Moody  in  the  great  cities  of  Great  Britain  and  North  America, 
Beecher  in  Brookl}^!,  Brooks  in  Boston — these  were  heroic 
figures,  ministers  of  the  Most  High  God,  preachers  of  the 
eternal  truth,  and  they  set  in  motion  streams  of  influence 
that  have  reached  to  our  own  day,  and  will  continue  with 
ever  widening  influence  until  the  kingdoms  of  this  world 
become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  His  Christ. 

H  this  responsibility  and  opportunity  is  tremendous  here 
in  America,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  task  that  lay  before  a 
man  like  George  Leslie  Mackay?  Up  and  down  the  island 
of  Formosa  he  faced  his  congregations,  knowing  that  most 
of  them  had  never  heard  even  the  name  of  God — to  these 
he  came  not  simply  as  a  messenger,  but  as  the  messenger 
of  the  Most  High.  Like  him,  over  the  whole  world  mission- 
aries and  native  preachers  in  non-Christian  lands  are  facing 
parishes  whose  members  are  numbered  not  by  tens  or  thou- 
sands, but  by  hundreds  of  thousands.  For  these  the  minister 
brings  a  message  that  meets  the  unvoiced  longings  of  multi- 
tudes without  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God. 

116 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-s] 

This  then  is  the  opportunitj^ — to  bring  to  rtien  in  the  terms 
they  can  understand  a  sense  of  the  presence,  the  love,  and 
the  purpose  of  the  living  God.  It  was  when  Augustine  found 
his  way  to  Milan  and  in  the  cathedral  there  heard  Ambrose 
in  the  pulpit  expounding  the  Scriptures  "in  tones  which  fell 
on  human  hearts  like  flakes  of  fire,"  that  the  words  of  Jesus 
and  the  Apostles  were  made  real  to  Augustine,  and  through 
the  personality  of  the  preacher  Augustine  found  his  way 
to  God  and  in  turn  became  one  of  the  mighty  religious  leaders 
of  the  early  ages.  Young  Wendell  Phillips,  sitting  in  the 
church,  hears  Lyman  Beecher  preach  on  the  sovereignty  of 
God,  and  after  the  benediction  hurries  to  his  room,  throws 
himself  on  his  knees  and  dedicates  himself  to  the  service  of 
God  and  his  fellow  men.  As  long  as  human  nature  remains 
as  it  is.  with  its  aspirations  and  longings,  with  a  conscience 
that  responds  to  the  voice  of  God  and  a  soul  that  continues 
to  recognize  its  kinship  to  the  Eternal,  the  preacher  will 
continue  as  one  of  the  great  constructive  forces  in  human 
society. 

Ill 

The  minister  among  his  people  meets  the  age-long  cry  of 
the  world  for  a  friend.  He  is  regarded  as  what  we  might 
properly  call  the  perpetual  friend.  In  the  brotherhood  of  the 
Church,  and  beyond  the  Church's  limits,  throughout  the  whole 
community,  the  minister  stands  alwa5'-s  as  the  friend  and 
ready  confidant  and  adviser  of  all.  By  virtue  of  his  position 
he  is  welcome  in  every  home  of  his  people ;  and  every  man, 
woman,  or  child  in  the  community,  left  without  friends,  turns 
to  him  for  help.  To  the  discouraged  and  disappointed,  the 
sick  and  the  sorrowing,  he  is  a  source  of  comfort,  inspiration, 
cheer,  courage,  and  faith.  The  minister  meets  his  people  in 
the  most  intimate  experiences  of  daily  life,  and  so  has  an 
opportunity  to  build  himself  into  the  very  heart  of  the  com- 
munity. Because  he  is  a  minister,  he  has  the  wonderful 
responsibility  and  opportunity  of  a  circle  of  personal  contacts 
open  to  no  one  else. 

117 


[X-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

Did  not  Phillips  Brooks,  when  they  wanted  him  to  guard 
his  time  from  the  enormous  pressure  of  personal  interviews, 
refuse  with  the  earnest  words,  "God  save  the  day  when  they 
won't  come  to  me"  ?  Do  you  remember  the  tribute  John 
Watson,  the  author  of  "The  Bonnie  Brier  Bush,"  pays  to  the 
pastor  of  his  youth :  "People  turn  to  him  as  by  instinct  in 
their  joys  and  sorrows,  men  consult  him  in  the  crises  of 
their  lives,  and  as  they  lie  dying  commit  their  wives  and 
children  to  his  care.  He  was  a  head  to  every  widow  and  a 
father  to  the  orphan  and  a  friend  to  all  lowly,  discouraged, 
unsuccessful  souls." 

IV 

Another  supreme  opportunity  is  before  the  Christian 
minister.  The  Church  is  the  central  agency  for  the  developing 
and  training  of  workers  for  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  the 
world.  Most  of  the  strongest  ministers  of  our  day  attack 
this  difficult  work  with  the  "stern  joy  that  warriors  feel,"  for 
they  recognize  that  this  is  the  way  in  which  they  can  probably 
render  their  very  greatest  direct  service  to  the  Kingdom  of 
God. 

The  development  of  the  educational  work  of  the  Church 
is  necessarily  the  first  step.  This  is  the  time  of  times  for 
such  work.  The  best  experts  in  the  United  States  and  Canada 
have  been  giving  time  and  attention  to  the  study  of  the 
Sunday  School  from  beginning  to  end.  The  graded  Sunday 
School,  with  all  its  possibilities  of  suitable  instruction  from 
primary  through  adult,  is  the  result.  This  is  the  great  Depart- 
ment of  Christian  Education  in  every  local  church.  To  see 
that  this  department  is  adequately  manned  and  developed  is 
a  field  of  effort  the  direction  of  which  will  draw  out  the 
very  best  powers  of  the  best-trained  men  that  enter  the 
Christian  ministry. 

Further  steps  in  developing  and  training  workers  appear  in 
many  ways.  The  various  societies  and  clubs  of  young  people, 
now  being  coupled  up  directly  with  the  class  work,  give  the 
opportunity  for  expression  of  the  truths  apprehended  in  the 

118 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-s] 

discussions.  Always  the  personal  method  is  vital.  What  an 
opportunity!  Carefully  to  cultivate  these  groups  of  boys 
and  girls  personalh'.  encouraging  them  in  their  difficulties, 
directing  them  to  appropriate  openings  for  service — what 
better  chance  could  the  heart  of  man  wish  for  influencing  his 
generation  for  the  cause  of  the  Kingdom? 

Then  the  minister  can  render  a  service  open  to  very  few 
others — that  of  directing  life  work  choice  wisely,  and  thus 
prevent  the  waste  of  men  and  women  that  results  from  the 
prevalent  careless  and  uncertain  method  of  drifting  into  a 
calling.  He  can  insure  that  the  needs  of  the  Church  in  all 
the  world  shall  have  a  fair  hearing.  He  can  indicate  lines 
of  preparation  and  assist  in  the  process  of  developing  such 
lines.  A  conspicuous  example  of  the  minister  as  an  educa- 
tional force  is  found  in  a  young  minister  who  served  for 
fourteen  years  as  pastor  of  a  church  made  up  largely  of 
mill  people  in  a  New  England  town.  Before  he  became 
pastor,  as  far  as  is  known,  no  member  of  the  church  or 
congregation  had  ever  gone  to  college,  and  only  eight  to 
normal  schools  and  one  to  a  technical  school.  In  the  fourteen 
years  he  was  pastor  fifty-one  have  taken  courses  of  higher 
education,  fourteen  going  to  college  and  others  to  normal  and 
technical  schools.  Of  this  number  three  have  entered  the 
ministry  and  six  have  become  missionaries.  This  remarkable 
result  is  almost  entirely  due  to  the  personal  work  of  the 
pastor  with  his  own  people. 


The  Christian  minister  is  a  community  force  in  matters 
of  reform,  philanthropy,  and  public  morals.  Christian  minis- 
ters have  led  the  temperance  fight  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  to  them  more  than  to  any  other  single  group 
is  due  the  rapid  spread  of  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic  in 
these  countries.  Bishop  Brent,  who  with  Dr.  Stuntz  repre- 
sented the  Church  in  the  opium  fight,  as  a  member  of  the 
Philippine    Opium    Commission,    had    much    to    do    with    the 

119 


[X-s]         A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

drawing  up  of  the  law  that  finall}^  led  to  the  suppression  of 
the  opium  trade  in  the  Philippine  Islands.  It  is  doubtful  if 
there  is  a  more  influential  or  better  known  person  in  the 
great  South  American  metropolis,  Buenos  Aires,  than  Rev. 
William  T.  McLaughlin,  a  plain  preacher  from  America,  who 
for  years  has  been  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Church. 
Many  ministers  serve  on  civic  committees,  on  boards  of  trade, 
on  housing  commissions,  on  child  welfare  committees,  on 
boards  of  education,  on  recreation  committees,  and  always 
and  everywhere  make  their  influence  felt  for  better  social 
conditions,  human  justice,  and  upright  living.  But  even  more 
powerful  in  its  influence,  the  minister  has  a  continual  oppor- 
tunity, from  the  pulpit,  in  personal  relationship,  or  through 
the  organization  of  the  Church,  to  relate  his  members  to 
every  good  enterprise  for  community  betterment. 

VI 

The  Church,  in  one  of  its  aspects,  is  a  human  organization, 
and  as  such  it  requires  the  constant  and  patient  attention 
of  an  executive  officer  who  will  relate  all  its  various  activities 
the  one  to  the  other,  securing  due  proportion  among  all  the 
parts.  The  minister  is  the  executive  head  of  the  Church, 
with  its  delicate  mechanism  of  human  personalities  and  won- 
derful possibilities.  In  this  work  the  minister  has  often  the 
best  help  from  skilled  men  and  women  among  the  member- 
ship, but  he  is  always  ready  to  take  the  lead  himself.  He  has 
an  opportunity  of  first  importance  for  administrative  work. 

This  is  the  opportunity  for  using  the  weapon  that  God  is 
shaping  with  the  help  of  his  followers.  Education,  training, 
enlistment — these  are  all  in  preparation  for  service.  The 
Church  is  to  serve,  and  the  minister  has  in  his  power  the 
direction  of  this  force  for  service  in  such  a  way  that  it  will 
be  of  greatest  use  in  the  Kingdom.  Indeed,  the  minister 
organizes  the  activities  of  his  church  and  relates  them  to  the 
progress  of  the  Kingdom  in  the  world,  A  minister  with 
administrative  ability,  patience,  and  initiative  has  in  his  church 

120 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-s] 

a  fulcrum  with  which  to  move  the  world  several  steps  for- 
ward toward  the  goal  of  world-wide  human  brotherhood. 
The  minister,  as  administrator,  brings  his  church  in  contact 
with  the  life  of  the  community  so  that  its  influence  will  reach 
into  the  homes,  shops,  and  schools  and  will  be  felt  as  an 
invigorating  and  purifying  force  in  every  phase  of  community 
life. 

VII 

The  ministry  is  an  imperial  calHng.  For  the  minister  "the 
field  is  the  world."  Every  Christian  minister  must  face  a 
world  map.  The  ministry  must  claim  its  sway  over  all  the 
world,  or  its  glory  is  departed.  Its  enthusiasm  is  humanity. 
The  foreign  missionary  force  of  the  Christian  Church  must 
be  recruited  largely  from  the  ranks  of  the  ordained  ministry 
of  the  Church.  Fully  sixty-six  per  cent  of  all  the  men  sent 
out  as  missionaries  by  the  foreign  mission  boards  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  have  been  ordained  men.  A  largely 
increased  number  of  these  thoroughly  trained,  ordained  men 
is  the  paramount,  immediate  need  in  the  great  world-wide 
missionary  enterprise.  The  missionary  aim  is  the  establish- 
ment of  self-supporting  indigenous  churches  in  all  lands  of 
the  non-Christian  world.  The  men  who  are  to  found  and 
guide  these  churches  must  be  men  who  understand  the  genius 
of  the  Church,  her  history,  and  her  world-wide  program. 
A  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  be  true  to  his  caUing,  must 
have  the  spirit  of  Paul  "whose  ambition  was  to  push  out  the 
bounds  of  the  Church  to  the  rim  of  the  world,  to  reach  the 
unreached,  to  make  the  Church  a  shining  moral  light  and  a 
glowing  social  fellowship,  and  a  resistless  Christian  argu- 
ment." 

"The  call  to  the  Christian  ministry  today  is  a  call  to  the 
heroic,  if  it  is  anything.  President  Eliot,  in  addressing  the 
entering  class  of  the  Harvard  Divinity  School  a  few  years 
ago,  characterized  the  ministry  as  'the  most  adventurous  of 
the  professions.'  It  reminds  one  of  the  saying  of  St.  Augus- 
tine:  There  is  no  work  in  this  life  more  difficult,  toilsome, 

121 


IX-s]  A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

and  hazardous  than  the  Hfe  of  a  minister.  It  will  require 
heroism  to  make  Christ  known  and  obeyed  in  the  cities  of 
our  continent ;  to  redeem  the  towns,  villages,  and  rural  dis- 
tricts;  to  lay  Christian  foundations  in  the  new  States  and 
provinces  of  our  great  West ;  to  grapple  successfully  with 
the  most  serious  social  problems  of  our  day;  and  to  wage  a 
triumphant  warfare  throughout  the  non-Christian  world.  The 
call  to  the  ministry  is  a  call  to  Lucknow  and  Port  Arthur 
service.  It  is  well  that  this  is  so.  The  highest  call  that 
comes  to  young  men,  as  Mazzini  has  said,  is,  'Come  and 
suffer.'  There  is  a  vicarious  element  in  strong  young  men 
which  needs  to  be  called  out  and  exercised.  There  is  a  deep 
truth  in  the  words  of  Illingworth :  'The  pleasures  of  each 
generation  evaporate  in  air;  it  is  their  pains  that  increase 
the  spiritual  momentum  of  the  world'"  (John  R.  Mott). 

Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

How  far  has  a  minister  any  real  opportunity  for  leadership 
in  solving  the  outstanding  problems  of  the  day,  at  home 
and  abroad F 

What  can  a  minister  do  from  his  pulpit? 

How  much  can  a  minister  actually  influence  public  opinion 
and  public  action  from  the  pulpit?  Compare  the  relative 
influence  of  the  minister  just  beginning  his  life  work  and  the 
journalist,  commencing  as  a  reporter;  the  relative  influence 
of  a  minister  and  an  editor  in  a  small  town. 

How  eager  is  the  demand  for  the  spiritual  message  of  the 
pulpit?  Why,  then,  do  certain  groups  of  society,  such  as  the 
laboring  men,  seem  to  be  turning  away  from  the  churches? 
Are  people  in  non-Christian  lands  really  "hungry  for  the 
Gospel"? 

What  factors  tend  to  restrict  the  free  speech  of  a  minister? 
Has  he  actually  a  chance  to  speak  out  strongly  against  com- 
munity wrongs? 

Of  what  value  is  it  to  a  community  to  have  those,  like  minis- 
ters, zvho  are  ready  to  be  friends  to  any  in  need? 
122 


THE  MINISTER'S  OPPORTUNITY  [X-sj 

Just  how  far-reaching  is  the  opportunity  of  a  minister  to 
develop  Church,  community,  and  national  leadership  at 
home  and  abroad? 

What  opportunity  has  a  minister  to  be  a  community  force? 

When  a  minister  sees  something  which  needs  to  be  changed 
in  a  community,  what  can  he  do  personally  and  through  his 
church?  Is  his  opportunity  greater  or  smaller  than  that  of 
a  person  who  is  not  a  minister? 

What  part  have  missionaries  played  in  changing  social 
conditions  in  non-Christian  countries? 

Who  is  needed  in  the  ministry? 

What  types  of  men  are  best  fitted  for  the  opportunities  of 
the  ministry? 

What  qualifications  or  talents  cannot  be  put  to  use  in  the 
ministry? 

Where  can  a  minister  zvorkf 


123 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH 

Daily  Readings 

The  mission  of  the  Church  is  not  confined  to  the  limits  of 
its  own  organized  activities.  It  has  pushed  out  into  society, 
ministering  to  all  the  varied  needs  of  men. 

First  Day  :  In  all  this  type  of  work  the  Church  has  but 
followed  the  spirit  of  its  Founder,  The  wide  mission  was 
suggested  by  Jesus  in  a  remarkable  parable. 

And  when  one  of  them  that  sat  at  meat  with  him 
heard  these  things,  he  said  unto  him,  Blessed  is  he 
that  shall  eat  bread  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  But  he 
said  unto  him.  A  certain  man  made  a  great  supper; 
and  he  bade  many :  and  he  sent  forth  his  servant  at 
supper  time  to  say  to  them  that  were  bidden,  Come ; 
for  all  things  are  now  ready.  And  they  all  with  one 
consent  began  to  make  excuse.  The  first  said  unto 
him,  I  have  bought  a  field,  and  I  must  needs  go  out 
and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And  an- 
other said,  I  have  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen,  and  I 
go  to  prove  them ;  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And 
another  said,  I  have  married  a  wife  and  therefore  I 
cannot  come.  And  the  servant  came  and  told  his 
lord  these  things.  Then  the  master  of  the  house 
being  angry  said  to  his  servant,  Go  out  quickly  into 
the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in 
hither  the  poor  and  maimed  and  blind  and  lame. 
And  the  servant  said,  Lord,  what  thou  didst  com- 
mand is  done,  and  yet  there  is  room.  And  the  lord 
said  unto  the  servant,  Go  out  into  the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  constrain  them  to  come  in  that  my  house 
124 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-2] 

may  be  filled.  For  I  say  unto  you,  that  none  of  those 
men  that  were  bidden  shall  taste  of  my  supper. 
—Luke   14:  15-24. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  this  parable  for  modern  life? 

Second  Day  :  The  first  great  leader  of  the  Christian  Church 
was  ever  pushing  out  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  organization. 
While  he  was  always  serving  the  churches  he  had  established 
he  never  rested  in  them,  nor  would  he  "build  on  another's 
foundation"  ;  he  was  off  and  away  to  reach  those  outside  the 
range  of  the  Gospel. 

And  a  vision  appeared  to  Paul  in  the  night:  There 
was  a  man  of  Macedonia  standing,  beseeching  him, 
and  saying,  Come  over  into  Macedonia,  and  help  us. 
And  when  he  had  seen  the  vision  straightway  we 
sought  to  go  forth  into  Macedonia,  concluding  that 
God  had  called  us  to  preach  the  gospel  unto  them. 
— Acts  16  :  9-IG. 

What  modern  Christians  have  been  like  Paul  in  this? 

Third  Day  :  The  complete  picture  of  Jesus  in  the  Gospels 
represents  Him  as  one  very  much  concerned  about  the  bodily 
welfare  of  men,  even  though  the  essence  of  His  mission  was 
spiritual.     Has  He  not  been  called  the  Great  Physician? 

And  in  the  synagogue  there  was  a  man,  that  had  a 
spirit  of  an  unclean  demon;  and  he  cried  out  with  a 
loud  voice,  Ah !  what  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus 
thou  Nazarene?  art  thou  come  to  destroy  us?  I  know 
thee  who  thou  art,  the  Holy  One  of  God.  And  Jesus 
rebuked  him,  saying.  Hold  thy  peace,  and  come  out  of 
him.  And  when  the  demon  had  thrown  him  down  in 
the  midst,  he  came  out  of  him.  having  done  him  no 
hurt.  And  amazement  came  upon  all,  and  they  spake 
together,  one  with  another,  saying,  What  is  this  word? 
for  with  authority  and  power  he  commandeth  the  un- 
clean spirits,  and  they  come  out.  And  there  went 
125 


[XI-4]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

forth   a   rumor   concerning  him    into   every   place   of 
the  region  round  about. — Luke  4 :  33-37. 

What  is  the  place  of  medical  service  in  a  spiritual  king- 
dom f 

IV hat  is  the  relation  between  physical  and  spiritual  health  f 
What  duty  have  we   regarding   the  physical  well-being   of 
ourselves  and  others? 

Fourth  Day  :  The  title  of  Teacher  was  continually  applied 
to  Jesus.  His  public  ministry  in  this  world  covered  a  very 
brief  period.  One  would  think  that  it  would  have  been  most 
profitable  to  spend  all  His  time  in  public  proclamation  to 
large  audiences.  But  not  only  do  we  find  Him  dealing  often 
with  individuals  in  the  direct  personal  method,  but  His 
''sermons"  are  largely  cast  into  what  we  call  the  "teaching" 
form.  We  see  Him  using  the  question  and  answer  plan,  we 
see  copious  illustrations  and  parables.  With  the  most  con- 
summate skill  we  see  Him  not  only  imparting  knowledge 
but  drawing  it  out  of  His  audience.  He  has  deserved  the 
title  of  the  Master  Teacher. 

And  his  parents  went  every  year  to  Jerusalem  at 
the  feast  of  the  passover.  And  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old.  they  went  up  after  the  custom  of  the 
feast;  and  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  days,  as  they 
were  returning,  the  boy  Jesus  tarried  behind  in 
Jerusalem;  and  his  parents  knew  it  not;  but  suppos- 
ing him  to  be  in  the  company,  they  went  a  day's 
journey;  and  they  sought  for  him  among  their  kins- 
folk and  acquaintance :  and  when  they  found  him  not, 
they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  seeking  for  him.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  after  three  days  they  found  him  in 
the  temple,  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  teachers,  both 
hearing  them,  and  asking  them  questions :  and  all 
that  heard  him  were  amazed  at  his  understanding 
and  his   answers. — Luke  2:41-47. 

Why  is  the  teacher  such  an  important  elevient  in  the  life 
of  each  individual? 

126 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-5I 

To  what  extent  is  personal  contact  necessary  to  successful 
teaching^ 

What  part  has  teaching  in  the  work  of  the  Church? 

Fifth  Day  :  The  test  of  a  man's  true  loyalty  is  his  "fruit." 
There  is  tolerance  as  well  as  challenge  in  the  words  of  Jesus : 

For  there  is  no  good  tree  that  bringeth  forth  cor- 
rupt fruit;  nor  again  a  corrupt  tree  that  bringeth 
forth  good  fruit.  For  each  tree  is  known  by  its 
own  fruit.  For  of  thorns  men  do  not  gather  figs, 
nor  of  a  bramble  bush  gather  they  grapes.  The 
good  man  out  of  the  good  treasure  of  his  heart 
bringeth  forth  that  which  is  good ;  and  the  evil  man 
out  of  the  evil  treasure  bringeth  forth  that  which  is 
evil:  for  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  his 
mouth  speaketh. 

And  why  call  ye  me,  Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the 
things  which   I   say? — Luke  6:43-46. 

How  far  can  a  man  be  judged  by  his  works? 
How  far  may  a  Christian  cooperate  with  those  zvho  do  not 
acknowledge  their  personal  allegiance  to  Jesus  Christ? 

Sixth  Day  :  From  the  very  first  Christianity  has  been 
concerned  with  the  rights,  the  powers,  and  the  possibilities 
of  those  suffering  under  injustice  and  of  those  who  do  not 
enjoy  peculiar  worldly  prominence.  "The  poor  have  the 
Gospel  preached  unto  them" — Jesus  quoted  these  words  as 
referring  to  His  own  work.  Christianity  becomes  aristocratic 
at  certain  times  and  in  certain  places,  but  its  spirit  is  incom- 
patible with  such  forms. 

For  behold  your  calling,  brethren,  that  not  many 
wise  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many 
noble,  are  called :  but  God  chose  the  foolish  things 
of  the  world,  that  he  might  put  to  shame  them  that 
are  wise;  and  God  chose  the  weak  things  of  the 
world,  that  he  might  put  to  shame  the  things  that 
are  strong;  and  the  base  things  of  the  world,  and  the 
127 


[XI-7]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

things  that  are  despised,  did  God  choose,  yea  and  the 
things  that  are  not,  that  he  might  bring  to  nought 
the  things  that  are :  that  no  flesh  should  glory  before 
God.  But  of  him  are  ye  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  was 
made  unto  us  wisdom  from  God,  and  righteousness 
and  sanctification,  and  redemption :  that,  according  as 
it  is  written,  He  that  glorieth,  let  him  glory  in  the 
Lord. — I  Cor.  i :  26-31. 

This  is  an  unqualified  proclamation  of  the  supremacy  of 
the  spiritual  element  in  life,  which  is  so  easily  lost  by  those 
who  are  dazzled  by  wealth  and  power. 

Why  is  the  "social  movement"  so  concerned  with  "the 
poor"? 

Se\'enth  Day: 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said,  Thou  shalt  love 
thy  neighbor,  and  hate  thine  enemy ;  but  I  say  unto 
you,  Love  your  enemies,  and  pray  for  them  that 
persecute  you ;  that  ye  may  be  sons  of  your  Father 
who  is  in  heaven :  for  he  maketh  his  sun  to  rise 
on  the  evil  and  the  good,  and  sendeth  rain  on  the 
just  and  the  unjust.  For  if  ye  love  them  that  love 
you,  what  reward  have  ye?  do  not  even  the  publicans 
the  same?  And  if  ye  salute  your  brethren  only, 
what  do  ye  more  than  others?  do  not  even  the 
Gentiles  the  same  ? — Matt.  5  :  43-47. 

These  words  sum  up  the  practical  side  of  the  Gospel  of 
Brotherhood.  "Love  your  enemies" — that  is  the  kind  of  love 
God  has  for  mankind:  does  He  not  shower  it  alike  on  good 
and  on  bad  men? 

When  a  man  or  woman  is  truly  in  the  power  of  His  spirit, 
there  is  no  room  for  hate,  for  revenge — no,  nor  even  the 
proud  sensitiveness  to  criticism  and  antagonism  so  prevalent 
among  good  people.  The  true  Christian  is  sorry  that  he 
has  enemies,  but  proposes  to  trust  them  just  as  if  they  were 
friends ;  he  is  endeavoring  to  please  God,  not  to  please  men, 

128 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-s] 

he  is  trying  to  approach  in  himself  the  perfect  attitude  of 
God.    This  is  the  true  "altruism." 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

In  its  strenuous  endeavor  to  serve  by  every  proper  means 
the  cause  of  the  Kingdom,  the  Church  has  developed  a  great 
group  of  institutions  that,  while  no  longer  organically  related 
to  the  organized  Church,  are  assisting  in  every  way  the  spread 
of  the  full  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  A  prominent  preacher 
has  lately  comprehended  this  group  of  institutions  under  the 
happy  title  of  the  "Larger  Church." 

Of  course,  cooperative  effort  among  the  various  denomina- 
tions has  been  growing  by  leaps  and  bounds.  Such  organiza- 
tions as  the  Sunday  School  Council,  the  Council  of  Church 
Boards  of  Education,  the  Committee  of  Reference  and 
Council  of  Foreign  Mission  Boards,  are  authoritative  repre- 
sentatives of  the  churches  aimed  to  direct  their  total  energy 
in  the  accomplishment  of  special  objects  with  the  least  possible 
waste.  The  Federal  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  marks 
another  great  advance  in  cooperation. 

II 

Within  a  circle  drawn  close  outside  the  Protestant  churches 
and  their  authoritative  interdenominational  organizations 
stand  such  agencies  as  the  Sunday  School  Associations,  terri- 
torial, national,  and  international,  that  have  played  such  an 
important  part  in  opening  up  the  vast  educational  opportunity 
that  now  hes  before  the  Church.  In  general,  these  associa- 
tions are  acting  in  cooperation  with  the  denominations  in 
carrying  on  certain  phases  of  this  great  work  by  the  united 
power  of  all.  Through  organizations  in  other  nations  and 
the  World's  Sunday  School  Association,  they  are  helping  in 
the  development  of  Sunday  School  work  all  over  the  world. 
The  various  Bible  and  tract  societies,  with  true  missionary 
spirit,  have  carried  the  printed  word  into  new  fields  and  so 

129 


[XI-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

prepared  the  ground  for  the  permanent  occupation  of  the 
territory  by  the  regular  forces  of  Christianity.  Influential 
and  useful  general  missionary  movements  have  proved  a 
powerful  stimulus  to  large  numbers  of  churches,  arousing  the 
members  to  their  full  responsibility  and  opportunity  in  the 
forward  work  of  the  Church.  A  small  group  of  publishing 
societies  have  been  of  great  service  in  special  tasks. 

In  such  organizations  there  is  a  small  but  steady  demand 
for  trained  men  and  women  to  direct  the  various  activities. 

Within  this  circle  stand,  too,  the  Young  Men's  and  Young 
Women's  Christian  Associations.  They  are  soundly  Church 
organizations  in  that,  while  not  officially  connected  with  any 
denomination,  they  owe  their  origin,  their  development,  and 
their  continued  life  to  the  Church  and  are  controlled  offi- 
cially by  Church  members.  Their  names  indicate  clearly  the 
special  types  of  work  they  are  called  upon  to  do.  Their 
steady  growth  in  membership  and  in  ability  and  equipment 
for  service  has  been  marked  by  an  increasing  articulation  of 
their  efforts  with  the  work  of  the  various  denominations ;  and 
they  may  claim  with  justice  to  be  "the  Servants  of  the 
Church,"  active  arms  of  the  organized  community  of  Chris- 
tians in  bringing  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

In  Canada  and  the  United  States,  in  thousands  of  local 
branches,  these  Associations  are  uniting  young  men  and 
young  women  for  Christian  education  and  Christian  service 
in  cities,  villages,  and  rural  communities ;  in  railroad  and 
industrial  communities,  and  in  schools,  colleges,  and  universi- 
ties. To  men  and  women  alone,  away  from  home  in  the  great 
cities,  these  Associations  have  proved  to  be  of  value  beyond 
power  to  compute.  They  have  carried  on  a  specialized  work 
for  the  great  number  of  immigrants  who  have  come  to  North 
America,  trying  by  every  means  to  assist  the  strangers  within 
our  gates  to  adjust  themselves  to  the  new  life  into  which 
they  have  entered.  Actually  reaching  out  also  into  new 
fields,  they  have  persistently  endeavored  to  bring  to  men 
and  women  the  message  of  the  Gospel  and  draw  them  into 
the  great  fellowship  of  the  Christian  Church. 

130 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-s] 

At  the  direct  request  of  the  mission  boards  of  the  denomi- 
nations, these  organizations  have  been  planted  in  many  non- 
Christian  lands.  There  they  are  endeavoring  to  carry  out 
the  same  general  ideals  that  have  dominated  the  work  in 
Christian  countries  and  to  raise  up  a  strong  and  efficient 
leadership  from  among  the  young  men  and  young  women  of 
the  nations  where  they  are  at  work.  Strong  Chinese,  Japa- 
nese, and  Indians  are  in  the  very  forefront  of  the  Associa- 
tion leadership  in  their  own  countries. 

The  opportunity  for  educated  men  and  women  in  profes- 
sional posts  in  these  active  arms  of  the  Christian  Church 
is  extensive  and  uniquely  varied.  In  the  local  branches  are 
required  executives  of  the  first  rank  to  direct  large  and 
growing  institutions,  and  with  them  are  required  large 
numbers  of  specialists  in  religious  education,  physical  training, 
evangelistic  work,  special  educational  service,  and  all  forms 
of  welfare  work.  The  extensive  supervisory  organizations, 
state,  territorial,  national,  and  international,  whose  function 
is  to  unite  the  efforts  of  the  local  Associations  and  extend 
the  work  wherever  possible,  offer  a  large  field  for  constructive 
leadership  in  all  branches  of  the  work.^ 

Superficially  it  might  appear,  especially  in  the  case  of  men, 
that  the  demand  for  qualified  secretaries  is  in  competition 
with  the  demand  for  the  direct  service  of  the  Church.  But 
when  it  is  remembered  that  there  are  in  America  about  4,000 
secretaries  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  and  over 
150,000  Protestant  ministers,  it  will  be  readily  appreciated  that 
this  requirement  of  one  secretary  for  every  forty  ministers 
cannot  be  considered  a  drain  upon  the  material  available 
for  the  leadership  of  the  Church. 

Ill 

Within  a  larger  circle  about  the  Church  stand  those  enter- 
prises that  have  been  grouped  loosely  as  "Social  Work." 
Seldom   do   we   fullv   realize   the   relation   of   the   Church   to 


See  year  books  of  these  organizations. 
131 


[XI-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

philanthropic  institutions.  Social  settlements  were  begun  by 
Church  members  seeking  to  exempHfy  the  principles  of  Christ 
among  those  in  special  distress.  Church  leaders  originated 
the  movement  that  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  charity 
organizations.  Though  institutions  resembling  hospitals 
appeared  here  and  there  in  the  ancient  world,  the  Church 
has  developed  these  institutions  consistently:  the  vast  majority 
of  hospitals  now  in  existence  owe  their  origin  directly  to  the 
Church.  It  would  be  extravagant  to  claim  that  the  Church 
always  and  everywhere  has  had  the  broad  social  outlook,  but 
nevertheless  its  record  stands  secure  as  the  institution  from 
which  sprang  the  whole  round  of  "altruistic"  organizations 
performing  such  a  splendid  work  in  the  modern  world. 

There  is  all  the  great  work  in  charity  organization 
societies  in  North  America ;  there  is  a  group  of  opportunities 
in  connection  with  general  welfare  efforts,  such  as  prison 
reform,  child  labor,  care  of  dependent  children,  municipal 
research,  the  fight  against  tuberculosis,  housing  reform,  delin- 
quency; there  is  a  wide  field  in  connection  with  social  investi- 
gation and  social  exhibits.  The  range  of  effort  is  very 
broad.^ 

Christians  ought  to  take  a  leading  place  in  this  branch  of 
the  Kingdom's  work.  First  of  all,  it  is  indeed  God's  work. 
The  social  disabilities  that  are  pressing  down  thousands  of 
human  beings,  robbing  them  of  even  the  flimsiest  decency,  are 
not  according  to  the  will  of  our  Father.  Must  it  not  be 
pleasing  in  His  sight  to  find  His  people  skilfully  conducting 
the  stern  fight  with  disease,  standing  between  desperate 
people  and  those  who  would  rob  them  of  their  very  lives 
for  gain,  opening  up  to  the  children  of  the  city  slums  a  chance 
to  play,  building  up  everywhere  constructive  and  preventive 
agencies  to  bring  liberty  and  freedom  to  mankind? 

Again,  let  us  never  forget  that  if  the  inspiring  spirit  of 
Christ  be  not  in  this  work,  its  glory  will  eventually  fail.    The 

2  "Salaried  Positions  for  Men  in  Social  Work,"  International  Committee  of 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,    124  East  28th  Street,  New  York  City. 

"Opportunities  in  Occupations  Other  than  Teaching"  (women).  Intercolle- 
giate Bureau  of  Occupations,  130  East  22nd  Street,  New  York  City. 

132 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-s] 

motions  of  brotherhood  are  not  very  attractive  without  the 
motive  of  brotherhood  behind  them.  The  slums  may  perhaps 
be  a  field  for  scientific  sociology,  but  that  is  not  their  primary 
character  :  they  are  communities  of  living  souls  needing  the 
full-orbed  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom.  If  this  vast  nev^  move- 
ment— scientific,  constructive,  and  optimistic  as  it  is — is  not 
to  fail  ignominiously  it  must  be  dominated  by  those  who  have 
learned  from  the  Master  Teacher,  the  Great  Physician,  the 
Eternal  Friend,  the  great  meaning  of  Christian  service  and 
Christian  sacrifice.^ 

In  her  fascinating  book,  "Twenty  Years  at  Hull  House," 
Jane  Addams  has  brought  us  the  spirit  and  atmosphere  of 
this  "social  work."  Constructive  and  preventive  rather  than 
merely  remedial,  this  kind  of  work  ought  to  appeal  strongly 
to  right-thinking  Christian  men  and  women.  It  is  a  real 
opportunity  for  men  and  women  who  would  help  to  recreate 
society  after  the  pattern  of  the  Kingdom. 

In  the  service  of  the  Church  in  non-Christian  lands  skilled 
social  workers  are  more  and  more  in  demand.  The  work 
of  foreign  missions  has  been  long  dominated  by  the  social 
outlook ;  the  attention  of  the  great  societies  has  been  regularly 
directed  to  the  promotion  of  schools,  colleges,  and  hospitals, 
and  to  the  direct  effort  to  counteract  serious  tendencies  in 
community  and  national  life.  In  these  countries  there  is, 
of  course,  a  special  opportunity  under  the  mission  boards  of 
the  Church  for  both  men  and  women  doctors,  nurses,  and 
teachers  in  all  branches  of  education.  He  who  feels  drawn 
by  the  "social  movement"  should  not  assume  that  opportunity 
for  such  work  is  open  only  in  America.* 


IV 

The  endeavor  has  been  made  to  present  simply  the  situation 
with  regard  to  the  large  number  of  institutions  that  consti- 

3  See  Jane  Addams,  "Twenty  Years  at  Hull  House." 

*  There  are  excellent  institutions  for  training  social  workers:  The  New  York 
School  of  Philanthropy,  Chicago  School  of  Civics  and  Philanthropy,  Boston 
School  for  Social  Workers,  and  School  of  Social  Economy  of  Washington  Uni- 
versity (St.  Louis,  Mo.). 

133 


[XI-s]        A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

tute  what  we  can  call,  with  every  reason,  the  "Larger  Church." 
The  particular  vocations  represented  by  such  institutions 
have  a  special  demand  upon  educated  young  men  and  young 
women.  The  Christian  lawyer  may  be  just  as  useful  and 
just  as  unselfish  a  person  as  the  Christian  social  worker  or 
the  Association  secretary;  there  is  no  real  reason  for  calling 
one  profession  "altruistic"  and  the  other^well,  something 
else.  But  the  point  is  that,  in  these  days,  the  Church  both 
in  its  regular  work  and  in  the  work  of  its  allies  needs  more 
men  and  women  of  exceptional  strength,  persistence,  and 
training  in  professional  service  at  home  and  abroad. 

These  professions  are  undermanned  in  the  sense  that  there 
are  not  enough  first-class  workers  to  go  around.  Good 
physicians  are  needed,  good  lawyers  are  needed ;  but  there 
are  in  America,  for  example,  enough  doctors  and  lawyers  to 
more  than  go  around.  There  are  not  enough  good  ministers, 
good  Association  secretaries,  good  social  workers,  and  good 
foreign  missionaries. 

For  this  reason  it  is  surely  proper  that  at  present  every  col- 
lege student  should  carefully  and  conscientiously  consider  each 
of  these  undermanned  callings  in  the  service  of  the  Church 
before  deciding  where  and  how  his  life  effort  shall  be  spent. 
All  life  is  God's,  nothing  is  common  or  unclean ;  but  the 
Kingdom  halts  now  for  lack  of  sufficient  leadership  in  these 
special  undertakings.  "The  harvest  is  plenteous,  but  the 
laborers  are  few."  That  is  the  point.  Opening  opportunity 
in  America,  in  Europe,  and  in  the  non-Christian  countries, 
calls  for  a  great  number  of  men  and  women  to  take  immediate 
advantage  of  this  wonderful  era  in  which  we  live.  God 
works,  then  let  us  not  forget  those  places  where  He  needs 
the  immediate  and  effective  cooperation  of  the  best  men  and 
women. 


Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

Does  the  Church  need  the  allies  mentioned  in  the  chapter, 
in  her  work  of  bringing  in  the  Kingdom? 
134 


THE  ALLIES  OF  THE  CHURCH  [XI-s] 

What  can  the  Christian  institutions,  organized  for  united 
work,  do  to  help  the  Church  and  the  Kingdom?  What 
opportunities  do  they  offer  for  life  investment? 

What  is  Social  Work?  To  what  extent  is  it  the  direct 
expression  of  the  Church?  What  is  its  relation  to  the  work 
of  the  Church?     Does  it  permanently  better  the  community? 

Why  are  the  so-called  "altruistic"  callings  undermanned? 

In  the  choice  of  a  life  work  what  consideration  should  he 
given  to  a  condition  of  lack  or  excess  of  workers  in  a 
particular  calling? 


135 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK 

Daily  Readings 

This  chapter  is  purposely  left  without  Daily  Readings  in 
order  that  there  may  be  adequate  time  for  thoughtful  and 
prayerful  consideration  of  the  important  suggestions  in  the 
chapter.  It  is  hoped  that  the  regular  time  will  be  given 
each  day  so  that  when  the  group  meets,  the  issues  will  be 
clear  and  distinct. 

Study  for  the  Week 

I 

Practically  every  educated  man  and  woman  in  America  has 
a  real  freedom  of  choice  as  to  the  directions  in  which  they 
will  expend  their  best  energies  during  the  working  years  of 
their  lives.  For  those  especially  who  are  determined  that 
they  will  live  for  the  Kingdom  and  its  Master,  it  is  necessary 
that  each  should  discover  the  work  in  which  he  can  render 
the  greatest  possible  service.  Each  can  do  some  things  better 
than  others.  He  who  deliberately  places  himself  in  a  work 
for  which  he  is  not  fitted  can  never  be  what  he  ought  to  be, 
can  never  hope  to  stand  among  his  fellows  at  his  best,  can 
never  gain  from  his  efforts  the  real  satisfaction  that  alone 
makes  life  endurable.  What  each  one  needs  is  a  line  of  work 
that  will  call  out  his  best  powers  and  compel  his  best 
enthusiasm. 

Moreover  the  great  Cause  itself  will  halt  if  its  citizens  are 
misplaced.  Gladstone  summed  up  the  situation  in  words  that 
can  be  readily  applied  to  the  Kingdom :  ''Methodically  to 
enlist  the  members  of  a  community,  v/ith  due  regard  to  their 

136 


THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [XII-s] 

several  capacities,  in  the  performance  of  its  public  duties,  is 
the  way  to  make  that  community  powerful  and  healthful,  .  .  . 
and  to  engender  a  warm  and  intelligent  devotion  in  those 
beneath  its  sway."  We  have  tried  to  show  how  stupendous 
is  the  task  of  the  Kingdom;  the  work  is  of  infinite  com- 
plexity, and  the  laborers  are  too  few  everywhere.  What  a 
tragedy  then  if  the  working  force,  never  adequate  to  meet 
the  full  needs  of  the  enterprise,  is  to  be  still  further  weakened 
by  the  misplacement  of  the  individual  workers! 

II 

The  Assurance  of  a  Divine  Call  to  All  Who  Obey 

If  man  may  expect  God's  guidance  in  any  of  the  perplexities 
of  life,  surely  he  may  confidently  turn  to  Him  in  the  face 
of  a  decision  so  transcendently  important  to  himself,  to  the 
Kingdom — and,  may  we  add  with  humility  and  reverence,  to 
God  Himself.  For  long  it  has  been  recognized  that  those 
who  serve  in  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  Church  should 
not  undertake  such  a  high  responsibility  unless  they  feel 
actually  "called  of  God."  Let  us  emphasize  and  deepen  this 
fine  and  true  conception.  But  if,  in  the  service  of  the  King- 
dom, men  and  women  are  required  for  tasks  of  every  kind ; 
if  we  have  been  right  in  maintaining  that  every  profession 
may  be  regarded  as  a  sacred  undertaking — are  we  not  justified 
in  insisting  that  each  of  us  ought  to  feel  that  impelling 
demand  of  God  upon  our  lives  for  that  particular  work  to 
which  we  are  destined,  whatever  be  the  nature  of  our  calling? 
Surely  if  we  do  not  feel  called  to  the  Christian  ministry,  we 
are  entirely  wrong  in  supposing  that  we  may  then  make  our 
life  decision  without  God's  guidance. 

Is  not  a  "call"  to  the  Christian  really  a  compelling  con- 
viction that  in  a  certain  particular  course  of  duty  he  can 
best  serve  the  Kingdom  and  so  fulfil  God's  will  in  his  life? 
If  the  compelHng  conviction  drives  a  man  into  engineering, 
let  him  raise  his  head  proudly  before  the  world — he  is  "called 
of  God."     If  the  compelling  conviction  drives  a  woman  into 

137 


[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

teaching,  she  may  go  into  her  work  with  a  triumphant  sense 
of  divine  mission.  And  to  undertake  any  work  without  a 
real  sense  of  God's  guidance  means  for  the  Christian  a 
dehberate  turning  aside  from  the  real  opportunity  his  Father 
would  offer  him  in  his  life.  Can  God  ever  give  to  such  the 
fulness  of  power  that  He  is  eager  to  bestow  qn  all  His 
workers  ? 

The  everyday  work  of  bringing  in  the  Kingdom  will  be 
done  largely  by  the  business  man,  the  engineer,  the  teacher, 
the  doctor,  the  manufacturer,  the  lawyer,  the  journalist,  the 
railroad  operator,  the  farmer,  the  mother  in  the  home,  and 
just  such  ordinary  folk;  and  God,  our  Father,  will  surely 
call  many  of  His  followers  to  these  plain  tasks  if  they  will 
hear  His  voice. 

To  have  accepted  for  one's  self  the  principle  of  life 
embodied  in  the  words  of  the  Fundamental  Decision  (quoted 
in  Chapter  VI),  means  a  commitment  to  God's  plan  for  His 
Kingdom  and  a  complete  willingness  to  comply  with  His 
peculiar  demands.  "He  that  doeth  .  .  .  shall  know  the  doc- 
trine." Obedience  must  be  the  first  condition  of  discovery  of 
God's  plan  for  our  lives. 

God's  willingness  to  lead  us  is  sure.  He  cannot,  without 
destroying  our  very  character  as  responsible  beings,  force  our 
decision.  There  are  unquestionably  conditions  that  must  be 
met  in  order  that  through  our  reason  and  conscience  He  may 
win  us  to  the  acceptance  of  His  plan.  He  would  not  only 
win  our  obedience  but  also  let  us  see  that  His  course  is 
right. 

As  briefly  as  may  be,  we  shall  proceed  to  sketch  certain 
conditions  that  the  experience  of  men  and  women  seems 
to  indicate  as  right  and  necessary.  The  subject  cannot  be 
exhausted,  no  one  can  claim  finality;  but  what  has  aided 
people  of  many  different  types  and  conditions  may  well  be 
supposed  to  be  of  assistance  to  others  in  a  perplexing  and 
momentous  crisis. 

Will  not  life  be  altogether  different  if  we  find  that,  instead 
of  just  filling  a  job,  we  are  out  on  a  divins  missiont 

138 


THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [XII-s] 

III 

The  Issues  in  Life  Work  Decision 

Every  decision  for  life  work  involves  two  distinct  .con- 
siderations. 

1.  The  type  of  "dcork.  There  is  a  certain  kind  of  profession 
in  which  any  one  Christian  can  do  his  best  work.  The  modern 
world  demands  a  great  range  of  specialization  and  thus  offers 
a  wide  field  of  choice.  At  the  same  time,  it  has  greatly 
increased  the  demand  for  specialized  training.  In  the  good 
old  days  it  was  all  right  to  dabble  in  half-a-hundred  jobs; 
but  the  years  of  preparation  now  required  demand  that  the 
individual  discover  his  bent  as  early  as  possible,  and  that 
he  set  briskly  about  the  matter  of  his  training. 

2.  The  place  of  work.  "The  field  is  the  world."  There 
is  in  the  Kingdom  some  particular  place  where  each  one  can 
render  a  better  service  than  he  could  anywhere  else.  It  may 
not  be  in  every  case  a  locality  fixed  for  life ;  but,  as  a  general 
rule,  those  who  do  the  best  work  remain  in  one  place.  The 
duty  of  finding  the  right  place  is  surely  as  pressing  as  that 
of  finding  the  right  type  of  work.  One  whose  capabilities 
indicate  with  seeming  decisiveness  that  he  should  be  an 
engineer  may  still  miss  the  best  opportunities  of  life  service 
by  allowing  mere  chance  or  purely  selfish  interests  to  deter- 
mine where  he  shall  throw  in  his  efforts. 

What  shall  it  be — law,  business,  medicine,  engineering, 
ministry,  social  work?  Where  shall  it  be — the  "home  town," 
the  congested  city  districts,  the  frontier,  China?  These  are 
the  two  issues. 

Sometimes  the  "what"  precedes  the  ''where,"  sometimes  the 
order  is  reversed ;  at  other  times  both  must  be  considered 
together :  both  elements  are  essential.  For  example,  some 
men  and  women  may  early  discover  that  they  are  specially 
fitted  for  the  profession  of  medicine;  the}^  will  set  about 
their  training  at  once,  deferring  the  matter  of  the  decision 
regarding  place  till  a  later  time.  On  the  other  hand,  some 
particular  place  of  work  may  appeal   strongly,  perhaps  long 

139 


[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

before  it  is  possible  to  determine  just  what  kind  of  work 
is  most  fitting.  Again,  when  neither  issue  may  have  pre- 
sented itself  with  overwhelming  force,  a  man  may  have  come 
upon  the  choice  between  the  practice  of  law  in  a  country 
district  in  America  and  the  Christian  ministry  in  India. 
Human  decisions  are  always  complex  and  we  need  not  expect 
that  this  important  one  will  be  any  exception. 

Each  individual  should  be  aware  of  the  fact  that  these 
two  elements  are  not  fixed,  clear  conceptions  in  every  case. 
For  example,  one  may  be  drawn  particularly  toward  the 
needs  of  the  immigrants  of  America.  Special  training  may 
have  made  him  particularly  able  to  help  at  this  point.  But 
this  opens  up  a  vast  range  of  possibilities  in  both  direc- 
tions ;  for  it  is  possible  to  touch  these  people  either  in  America 
or  in  Europe  or  Asia  or  in  transit,  and  there  are  a  variety  of 
professions  that  offer  opportunities  for  direct  service.  Such 
exceptions  do  not  invalidate  the  general  rule. 

IV 

The  Data  for  an  Intelligent  Decision 

The  materials  for  determining  the  course  of  life  interest  do 
not  lie  ready  to  hand.  They  must  be  gathered  persistently 
and  weighed  with  special  care.  Is  it  not  wise  to  give  all  the 
time  necessary  to  such  investigation?  A  really  adequate 
medical  preparation,  for  example,  will  require  at  the  very 
least  four  years  in  medical  college  and  two  years  in  hospital 
work.  Does  it  seem  unreasonable  to  urge  that  a  few  months 
at  least  should  be  spent  upon  finding  out  if  that  is  actually 
zvhat  zve  ought  to  do? 

The  information  needed  in  making  an  intelligent  life  work 
decision  is  here  grouped  under  the  following  heads:  (i) 
Types  of  work,  (2)  The  needs  and  opportunities  in  the 
world,  (3)  Workers  at  work,  (4)  Constitutional  aptitudes 
and  special  training  due  to  peculiar  circumstances,  (5)  Familj'- 
obHgations,    (6)   The  advice  of  friends. 

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THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [XII-s] 

1.  Types  of  Work 

There  are  many  different  kinds  of  work  in  the  modern 
world.  Every  individual  ought  to  examine  the  whole  list 
carefully. 

We  insert  here  one  chosen  from  Frank  Parsons'  "Choosing 
a  Vocation."  In  the  book  itself  there  is  a  more  thorough 
analysis  and  the  general  qualifications  are  included  in  each 
section. 

(i)   Agriculture,  Horticulture,  Floriculture,  etc. 

(2)  Stock-raising,  Dairying,  and  other  Animal  Industries. 

(3)  Mining,   Quarrying,   etc. 

(4)  Mechanical    trades,    Manufacturing   and    Construction, 

Transportation,  etc. 

(5)  Commerce. 

(6)  Finance,  Banking,  Investment,  etc. 

(7)  Agencies,  Office  Work,   etc. 

(8)  The   professions:    (a)    Teaching;    (b)    The   ministry; 

(c)  Authorship;  (d)  Journalism;  (e)  Medicine, 
Surgery,  Dentistry;  (f)  Engineering;  (g)  Archi- 
tecture;  (h)  The  Law;  (i)   Statesmanship. 

(9)  Semi-Professional  work. 

(10)  Artistic  Employments. 

(11)  PubHc  Service. 

(12)  Social  work. 

See  the  Appendix  for  a  list  of  books  dealing  with  single 
types  of  work.^ 

2.  The  Needs  and  Opportunities  in  the  World 

The  whole  world  is  the  field  of  Christian  service.  While  it 
is  not  possible  to  examine  minutely  every  part  of  every 
country  in  the  world,  it  is  possible  to  gain  a  knowledge  of 
the  general  situation.  As  our  investigation  progresses  the 
particular  issue  will  probably  be  narrowed  and  thus  permit 
of  a  more  minute   examination.     Every  opportunity  to  hear 


^Consult,  Intercollegiate  Bureau  of  Occupations,  130  East  22nd  Street,  New 
York  City. 

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[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

lectures  and  join  study-classes  that  will  enlarge  our  informa- 
tion ought  to  be  seized  upon  at  once. 

A  list  of  books  to  aid  in  this  study  will  be  found  in  the 
Appendix. 

There  is  a  class  of  detailed  information  which  is  most 
essential.  Great  care  has  been  taken  lately  to  collect  material 
regarding  the  actual  need  for  special  tj'pes  of  work  in  differ- 
ent locaHties.  For  example,  one  may  well  hesitate  to  still 
further  crowd  a  profession  already  overcrowded  in  a  particu- 
lar locality.  While  it  is  never  possible  to  make  such  informa- 
tion complete,  the  available  data  are  worth  careful  study. 

See  list  of  books  in  the  Appendix. 

3.  Workers  at  Work 

All  investigation  as  suggested  is  liable  to  be  mechanical 
unless  it  is  supplemented  by  the  study  of  men  and  women 
at  work  over  the  world.  Where  this  can  be  done  directly 
there  is  a  great  advantage ;  but  in  any  case,  lest  a  great 
character  seen  at  close  range  should  tend  to  upset  our  per- 
spective, it  is  well  to  study  a  somewhat  wide  range  of  workers 
through  their  biographies.  Thus  we  see  the  embodiment  of 
the  various  t3^pes  of  work. 

See  list  of  biographical  suggestions  in  the  Appendix, 

4.  Constitutional  Aptitudes  and  Special  Training 
This  involves  the  difficult  task  of  discovering,  each  for  him- 
self, the  lines  of  effort  for  which  we  are  best  qualified  by  the 
sum  total  of  our  personal  capabilities.  This  question  is  of 
prime  importance  and  worthy  of  detailed  discussion.  In  this 
brief  presentation,  we  must  be  content  with  suggesting  three 
lines  of  investigation. 

(i)  Direct  self -study.  A  simple  examination  as  frank  as 
possible,  of  ourselves.  Suggestions  are  given  in  the  book 
cited  before,  Frank  Parsons'  "Choosing  a  Vocation." 

(2)  Study  by  expert  counsellors.  Many  organizations  now 
employ  expert  vocational  counsellors.     These  may  be  found 

142 


THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [XII-s] 

in  many  Christian  Associations  and  in  various  vocation 
bureaus.  No  counsellor  can  decide  for  us,  but  may  be  able 
to  give  the  most  valuable  assistance  in  discovering  personal 
capabilities  and  suggesting  how  these  may  be  related  to  specific 
tasks.  This  help  is  invaluable  unless  the  individual  is  tempted 
to  surrender  his  right  of  decision.  No  really  expert  coun- 
sellor will  permit  this  course  of  action. 

(3)  Trial  by  experience.  Every  educated  man  and  woman 
ought  to  be  able  during  college  days  to  make  personal  tests 
of  capabilities.  Think  what  an  opportunity  for  this  there  is 
in  the  life  of  the  college  and  in  its  varied  activities.  Using 
all  available  advice,  try  out  a  few  lines  in  a  small  way.  While 
this  method  may  not  produce  final  conviction,  it  may  at  least 
eliminate  certain  possibilities.  Let  the  trials  be  wide;  many 
unexpected  abilities  are  often  brought  out  by  accident. 

Each  one  should  be  sure  not  to  overlook  special  training. 
Sometimes  we  are  in  possession  of  some  foreign  language, 
sometimes  home  influence  has  developed  some  peculiar  artistic 
or  mechanical  talent :  some  element  like  this  may  lead  the 
way  to  the  largest  opportunity  in  life. 

This  study  ought  to  clarify  thinking.  It  will  make  more 
clear  the  life  callings  for  which  one  has  some  adaptability, 
and  open  the  way  for  further  investigation. 

5.  Family  Obligations 

This  important  topic  cannot  be  adequately  discussed  here. 
There  are  two  elements:  (i)  The  wishes  of  our  parents 
and  the  family,  (2)  The  needs  of  our  family. 

(i)  The  wishes  of  the  family  represent  a  part  of  the  data 
we  must  consider,  but  the  decision  must  be  made  by  the  indi- 
vidual. Too  often  mere  sentiment  has  driven  a  boy  or  girl 
into  work  they  detest — and  detest  more  and  more  as  the  years 
go  by.  Due  consideration  must  be  given  to  the  opinion  of 
those  who  know  us  well,  but  the  freedom  of  individual 
decision  must  not  be  abridged. 

(2)  The  needs  of  the  family  sometimes  constitute  a  real 
143 


[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

obligation,  and  are  thus  an  element  in  every  decision.  It  is 
necessary  in  many  cases  for  a  man  or  woman  to  take  some- 
thing near  at  hand  in  order  to  provide  food  and  shelter  for 
others.  Obviously  this  duty  is  clear.  There  is  a  point,  how- 
ever, when  family  demands  become  quite  unreasonable ;  in 
such  a  case  no  one  has  a  right  to  permanently  cripple  his 
usefulness  because  of  the  gross  selfishness  of  relatives.  Each 
case  must  be  considered  on  its  own  merits. 

6.  TJie  Advice  of  Friends 

The  advice  of  friends  who  have  the  real  spirit  of  service 
to  the  Kingdom  is  a  valuable  part  of  our  data.  Again,  it  is 
we.  and  not  they,  who  decide ;  but  their  words  should  be  care- 
fully considered.  Even  the  expert  counsellor  may  fail  to 
discover  what  a  friend  of  years  may  know  well.  This 
opportunity  should  not  be  allowed  to  shp. 


The    Process   of   Decision 
I.  General  Considerations 

Of  course,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  arrive  at  a  decision  of 
this  character  by  simply  piecing  together  these  considerations 
so  they  fit  the  one  into  the  other.  There  is  no  purely  intel- 
lectual method  of  settling  such  a  question.  The  choice  is  a 
decisive  act  of  the  whole  personality  and  it  must  commend 
itself  to  the  person  as  a  whole;  it  must  be  "Hved  into." 

The  necessity  for  choice  is  pressed  upon  us  at  a  peculiar 
time  in  life.  A  half-century  ago  the  final  issue  might  be 
put  off  till  full  maturity  in  most  instances.  Specialized  train- 
ing was  not  so  arduous,  more  trials  were  possible.  But,  as 
a  rule,  now  the  decision  must  be  taken  before  the  age  of 
maturity,  when  our  experience  is  very  limited  and  many  other 
matters  come  up  for  settlement.  This  difficult  and  serious 
question  arrives  always  before  we  are  really  ready  for  it. 
To  recognize  this  fact  and  face  it  frankly  is  the  first  duty. 

144 


THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [Xll-s] 

It  is  just  because  of  this  that  it  is  necessary  to  settle  finally 
the  aim  in  life  before  the  problem  of  work  is  opened  up 
at  all. 

It  is  well  that  both  men  and  women  should  recognize  the 
difference  between  the  decision  as  it  appears  to  men  and  to 
w^omen.  Men  view  a  great  range  of  opportunity;  the  ma- 
jority of  women  look  forward  to  the  single  task  of  "home- 
making."  Women  are  liable  to  consider  any  work  they  take 
up  as  simply  a  way  of  filling  in  the  time.  There  are  conspicu- 
ous exceptions,  many  of  them,  in  these  days ;  there  are 
hundreds  of  college  women  who  are  choosing  carefully  what 
might  possibly  better  be  called  a  life  interest  than  a  life  work, 
and  are  endeavoring  to  make  themselves  thoroughly  efficient 
in  their  chosen  line  without  in  any  sense  closing  the  door 
upon  the  possibility  of  "home-making"  in  the  future.  It  can- 
not be  that  the  "home  making"  of  the  future  will  suffer 
because  the  wife  and  mother  has  been  thoroughly  trained 
for  some  special  work.  Purpose  and  preparation  leave  their 
enduring  marks  in  character  and  inevitably  the  special  interest 
will  make  possible  a  richer  and  fuller  life  for  all  in  the 
home.  It  is  quite  true  that  all  knowledge  can  be  turned  to 
some  definite  account ;  nothing  that  has  been  really  learned 
is  wasted.  Also,  we  ought  to  read  the  signs  of  the  times  : 
it  is  rapidly  becoming  possible  for  women  to  practice  after 
marriage,  to  a  certain  extent,  a  profession  in  which  they 
were  expert  and  successful  before  marriage.  The  "home- 
making"  duty  may  be  discharged  with  equal  faithfulness  in 
many  different  ways  and  the  mother's  influence  may  be  con- 
sidered from  the  qualitative  as  well  as  the  quantitative  point 
of  view. 

It  need  hardly  be  pointed  out  that  those  women  who  return 
directly  to  their  parents'  homes  after  college  are  better  fitted 
to  be  real  elements  of  usefulness  in  the  community  if  they 
have  a  dominant  interest,  backed  by  confidence  born  of  sound 
training. 

It  is  suggested  that  it  is  for  the  best  interests  of  woman's 
life  to  face  the  question  of  life  work  largely  as  a  man  does. 

145 


[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 

in  confidence  that  no  great  purpose  will  fall  to  the  ground 
useless  whatever  the  future  may  bring.  Upon  men  falls  the 
imperative  duty  to  recognize  the  individuality  of  women 
whether  in  or  outside  married  Hfe,  and  create  an  atmosphere 
wherein  they  may  realize  their  full  opportunity  in  the  modern 
world. 

2.   Working  Out  the  Problem 

The  first  step — and  a  comparatively  easy  one — is  the  nar- 
rowing of  the  possibilities  by  a  process  of  exclusion.  As  one 
man  said :  "I  can  never  be  an  evangelistic  singer  anyway, 
because  I  cannot  sing  a  note."  It  is  not  wise  to  close  too 
many  opportunities  in  such  summary  fashion,  but  certainly 
the  limits  of  choice  may  be  soon  set  with  some  degree  of 
confidence. 

One  clear  danger  to  avoid  is  that  of  stepping  into  some 
position  that  offers  temporary  prominence  just  because  it 
seems  big  in  itself ;  it  may  be  a  blind  alley.  A  second  is 
taking  up  some  work  that  we  are  really  not  fit  to  carry  simply 
because  it  has  been  offered ;  this  usually  means  at  least 
temporary  disaster  and  consequent  loss  of  confidence.  And 
always  we  face  the  subtle  money  question.  "I  will  make  a 
lot  of  money  to  give  to  the  good  cause,"  is  a  common  sop 
offered  to  conscience ;  but  it  is  nearly  always  fatal :  it  is 
our  best  service  that  is  called  for,  not  our  superfluous  cash, 
and  it  is  a  rare  character  that  can  stand  the  strain  of  a  life 
purpose  that  is  the  "making  of  money"  whatever  be  the 
secondary  motive. 

Each  individual,  then,  ought  to  face  fairly  and  frankly  all 
the  considerations  suggested  and  any  others  that  may  arise, 
endeavoring  to  use  them  as  a  basis  for  determining  just  how 
and  where  the  best  service  may  be  rendered. 

On  the  testimony  of  men  and  women  of  wide  experience, 
there  are  three  life  conditions  that  should  be  fulfilled  if  there 
is  to  be  real  confidence  in  the  reliability  of  the  decision. 

(i)  The  reason  and  conscience  must  he  constantly  rectified 
by  prayer  and   meditation,   and   by  the  practice   of  unselfish 

146 


THE  CHOICE  OF  A  LIFE  WORK        [XII-s] 

service.  When  times  of  stress  and  decision  come  it  is  neces- 
sary that  each  have  his  times  of  isolation  and  retirement, 
where  he  may  come  face  to  face  with  God  and  His  purpose. 
Life  ought  to  be  kept  normal  if  the  vision  is  to  be  clear;  and 
in  the  most  difficult  times,  freedom  from  interruption  and 
divided  interest  alone  can  provide  the  condition  for  conclu- 
sive thinking. 

(2)  There  must  be  a  constant  willingness  to  take  a  step 
ahead  as  soon  as  the  way  is  made  clear  by  God.  The  com- 
plex character  of  this  decision  has  been  dwelt  upon  many 
times.  The  purpose  of  God  for  any  one  particular  person 
may  be  such  that  it  can  be  only  understood  a  part  at  a  time. 
To  refuse  to  move  because  we  cannot  see  all  the  way,  is  to 
lose  the  battle  at  the  beginning.  Obedience  is  the  first  condi- 
tion of  knowledge.  Recall  Phillips  Brooks'  words,  as  he, 
like  many  others  of  the  world's  noblest,  took  a  step  ahead 
though  the  rest  of  the  future  was  all  dark:  "As  we  pass 
from  some  experience  to  some  experiment,  from  a  tried 
to  an  untried  scene  of  life,  it  is  as  when  we  turn  to  a  new 
page  in  a  book  we  have  never  read  before,  but  whose  author 
we  know  and  love  and  trust  to  give  us  on  ever}'  page  words 
of  counsel  and  purity  and  strengthening  virtue." 

(3)  Nothing  can  be  gained  if  there  be  not  a  definite  faith 
that,  to  all  who  faithfully  try  to  fulfil  the  conditions,  God 
Zi'ill  reveal  His  will  through  reason  and  conscience  in  an  un- 
cscapable  conviction.  That  God  does  so  make  His  purpose 
clear  is  the  testimony  of  a  great  army  of  those  who  cannot 
be  doubted.  Remember  how  Jesus  fulfilled  the  conditions — 
the  victory  was  superb.  After  a  new  conviction  came  to 
Paul  on  the  road  to  Damascus,  obediently  he  went  away 
quietly  to  settle  the  whole  question;  he  came  to  his  life  work 
under  a  world-conquering  sense  of  mission.  It  is  not  that 
zve  must  wring  an  anszver  out  of  our  Father  in  Heaven  by 
painful  coaxing.  Is  He  not  waiting,  zvith  more  eagerness  than 
we,  the  moment  when  He  can  hand  the  commission  to  the 
man  or  woman  who  is  ready  for  it? 

147 


[XII-s]       A  CHALLENGE  TO  LIFE  SERVICE 
Suggestions  for  Thought  and  Discussion 

What  are  the  inherent  difficulties  in  the  decision  of  life 
work? 

What  is  a  "call"?  In  what  kinds  of  life  work  may  one 
dispense  with  a  call? 

What  is  the  relative  importance  of  the  two  great  issues  in 
life  work  decision — the  type  and  place  of  work,  the  "how" 
and  the  "where"? 

What  data  are  necessary  for  an  intelligent  decision?  Can 
such  data  be  secured?  If  so,  how?  Why  is  it  dangerous  to 
decide  without  adequate  data? 

What  steps  can  a  person  take  to  ensure  the  right  decision? 

Can  a  Christian  be  sure  of  God's  direction  in  this  decision? 
How? 


148 


APPENDIX 

Suggestions  for  Reading  that  will  Assist  in 
THE  Life  Work  Decision 

N.  B.  This  list  is  merely  suggestive  of  the  lines  of  reading 
that  may  profitably  be  followed. 

1.  General 

John  Foster,  "Decision  of  Character" 
Henry  B.  Wright,  'The  Will  of  God" 

H.  C.  King,  "The  Moral  and  Religious  Challenge  of  our 
Times" 

2.  Technical  Literature  on  Vocation 
Frank  Parsons,  "Choosing  a  Vocation" 

Meyer  Bloomneld,  "The  Vocational  Guidance  of  Youth" 

3.  Types  of  Work 

General 

"Young  People's  Library  of  Vocations"    (10  volumes). 

E.  W.  Weaver  and  J.  Frank  Byler,  "Profitable  Vocations 
for  Boys" 

"Opportunities  in  Occupations  Other  Than  Teaching" 
(Women) 

The    Christian    Ministry 
C.  Silvester  Home,  "The  Romance  of  Preaching" 
J.  R.  Mott    (Ed.),   "The   Claims  and  Opportunities  of  the 
Christian   Ministry" 
Timothy  Kilbourn,  "The  Triumphant  Ministry" 

The  Foreign  Missionary 
A.  J.  Brown,  "The  Foreign  Missionary" 


APPENDIX 

The  Secretaryship  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 

Theodore  Gerald  Soares,  "A  Vocation  with  a  Future" 
E.  T.   Colton,    "Personal   Qualifications   for  the   Successful 
Employed  Officer" 

The   Secretaryship   of  the    Young   Women's  Christimi 
Association 

Mabel  Cratty,  "The  Executive  of  the  Association" 
Elizabeth  Wilson,  "The  Employed  Officer" 
"Handbook  of  the  Young  Women's   Christian  Association 
Movement" 

Professional  Social   Work 
"Salaried  Positions  for  Men  in  Social  Work" 
"Opportunities     in     Occupations     other     than     Teaching" 
(Women) 

4.  Places  of  Work 

America 

Josiah  Strong,  "The  Challenge  of  the  City" 

G.  Walter  Fiske,  "The  Challenge  of  the  Country" 

Ward  Piatt,  "The  Frontier" 

W.  P.  Shriver,  "Immigrant  Forces" 

Africa 
Frederick  P.  Noble,  "The  Redemption  of  Africa" 

Arabia 
S.  M.  Zwemer,  "Arabia;  The  Cradle  of  Islam" 

China 

E.  A.  Rose,  "The  Changing  Chinese" 

Margaret  E,  Burton,  "The  Education  of  Women  in  China" 

F.  L.  Hawks  Pott,  "The  Emergency  in  China" 

150 


APPENDIX 

India 
George  Sherwood  Eddy.  "India  Awakening" 
John  P.  Jones,  "India's  Problem,  Krishna  or  Christ?" 

Japan 

Otis  Gary,  "Japan  and  Its  Regeneration" 

Sidney  L.  Gulick,  "The  Evolution  of  the  Japanese" 

Korea 
James  S.  Gale,  "Korea  in  Transition" 

Latin  America 
Robert  E.  Speer,  "South  American  Problems" 

General 

John  R.  Mott,  "The  Decisive  Hour  of  Christian  Missions" 

John  R.   Mott,  "The  Present  World  Situation" 

S.  M.  Zwemer,  "The  Unoccupied  Mission  Fields  of  Africa 

and  Asia" 

Bulletin  giving  list  of   foreign   needs.     Student   Volunteer 

Movement,  25  Madison  Ave.,  New  York  City.  (Gratis.) 

5.  Biographies 

Men 

A.  V.  G.  Allen,  "PhiUips  Brooks"   (Minister) 
L.  L.  Doggett,  "Robert  E.  McBurney"  (Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  Secretary) 

S.  M.  Zwemer,  "Raymond  Lull"    (Missionary) 
W.  H.  T.  Gairdner,  "D.  M.  Thornton"   (Missionary) 
Robert  E.    Speer,   "The  Foreign  Doctor"    (Physician) 
Joseph  Graham  Brooks,  "An  American  Citizen"   (Business 
Man) 
Jacob  Riis,  "The  Making  of  an  American"   (Journalist) 
G.  M.  Trevelyan,  "John  Bright"    (Politician) 
John  Morley,  "William  Ewart  Gladstone"   (Statesman) 
151 


APPENDIX 

Women 
Beth     Bradford    Gilchrist,     "The    Life    of     Mary     Lyon" 

(Educator) 
George    H.     Palmer,     "Life    of    Alice    Freeman     Palmer" 

(Educator) 
Jane    Addams,    "Twenty    Years    in    Hull    House"     (Social 

Worker) 

Helen  S.  Dyer,  "Life  of  Pandita  Ramabai"  (Social  Worker) 
R.   M.   Mateer,    "The   Life   of    Mrs.   Julia   Brown   Mateer" 

(Missionary) 
Ethel  D.  Hubbard,  "Ann  of  Ava"   (Missionary) 
Robert  E.  Speer,  "Memorial  of  Alice  Jackson" 
M.  F.  Crowe,  "Life  of  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe" 
Margaret  E.  Burton,  "Notable  Women  of  Modern  China" 

General 
Margaret  E.  Burton,   "Comrades  in   Service" 
Sophia  Thaler,  "Masters  of  Fate" 

J.  Lovell  Murray  and  F.  M,  Harris,  "Christian  Standards  in 
Life" 


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